Prime Minister Rumen Radev welcomed Eurovision 2026 winner DARA at the Council of Ministers, where government officials, representatives of the Bulgarian National Television, and the singer’s team gathered to discuss the first steps toward Bulgaria’s hosting of Eurovision 2027. The meeting came only days after DARA’s victory with “Bangaranga”, a success that has sparked widespread excitement across the country.
Radev greeted the singer with flowers and praise, telling her she had already become “part of European politics.” The prime minister recounted a recent visit to Berlin, where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly welcomed him by playing DARA’s Eurovision performance on his phone. “A few days ago I was in Berlin and Chancellor Merz greeted me with ‘Bangaranga,’” Radev said, adding that the reaction showed how widely Bulgaria’s Eurovision success had resonated across Europe.
The prime minister congratulated the singer not only for winning the contest, but also for the way she handled the sudden attention afterward. “Even after this victory you continue to behave with dignity, and that is no less important than the victory itself,” he told her. Radev described the triumph as something the Bulgarian people needed at a time when society was searching for confidence and positive examples. “Our people need such victories in order to believe in themselves,” he added.
