Simeon II of Bulgaria

File:Simeon de Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.jpg

Simeon Sakskoburggotski as Prime Minister of Bulgaria

Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski, formerly Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria (born June 16, 1937) was the last Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943 to 1946, and was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 until August 2005. He is sometimes known in the English speaking world as Simeon of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, which is the English form of his family's original German name Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha. He is the only monarch in history to regain political power through democratic election to a different office (see Norodom Sihanouk and Napoleon III for similar histories).

Royal history

Simeon is the son of Tsar Boris III and Tsaritsa Giovanna (of the House of Savoy). He was baptized with water taken from the River Jordan and flown to Bulgaria by an air force major. He became Tsar on August 28 1943 upon the sudden and suspicious death of his father, shortly after a dinner meeting with Adolf Hitler. Since Tsar Simon was only six years old upon assuming the throne, his uncle Prince Kyril of Bulgaria and two others were appointed regents. On the 9th September 1944, Kyril and the other regents were removed by a Soviet-backed coup. Kyril was soon tried and executed, as were many members of Bulgaria's educated governing classes.

Simeon was allowed to stay on the throne with regents appointed by the new Communist government. In 1946 the monarchy was abolished after a rigged referendum that claimed 95% approval. The royal family initially went to Alexandria, Egypt, where Tsaritsa Giovanna's father Victor Emanuel III, ex-king of Italy, was living in exile. In July 1951 the Spanish government of Francisco Franco granted asylum to the exiled Bulgarian royal family. In Madrid Simeon graduated from the Lycée Francais and studied law and political science. In 1955, upon turning eighteen, he proclaimed himself the Tsar of Bulgaria, in accordance with the Turnovo Constitution. In 1958–59 he enrolled at Valley Forge Military Academy and College in the United States, where he was known as "Cadet Rylski" and graduated as a second lieutenant. Once again in Spain, Simeon studied law and business administration, and went on to become a businessman.

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Sakskoburggotski as Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria, 1944

In 1962 Simeon married a Spanish aristocrat, Doña Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela. They had five children — four sons (Kardam, Kyril, Kubrat and Konstantin, in that order) and a daughter, Kalina, all of whom also married Spaniards. He spent most of his adult life working as a businessman: thirteen years as chairman of the Spanish subsidiary of Thomson, a French defence and electronics group, and as an advisor in the banking, hotel, electronics, and catering sectors.

Political return

In all his years of exile, Simeon never lost touch with Bulgaria. He is fluent in Bulgarian, which he speaks in a slightly courtly and old-fashioned manner, as well as in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish; he also speaks some Arabic and Portuguese. In 1996 Simeon was finally permitted to return to Bulgaria on a private visit and was well-received, with thousands in the streets cheering him and chanting "We want our tsar." His personal properties in Bulgaria that had been confiscated by the Communists were returned to him by a court order. At first he declared that he was willing to donate "his" forests in Rila Mountain to the eponymous National Park but later reneged on that promise. Instead, he expressed his support for a controversial Super Borovetz project which aims to expand the ski resort of Borovetz at the expense of the neighbouring forests.

In 2001 Simeon, now using the name Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski, saying that he wished to return for good, announced the formation of a new political party, the National Movement for Simeon II (NMSII), dedicated to "reforms and political integrity." Simeon himself promised a period of 800 days, after which the Bulgarian people would start feeling the positive effects of his government's rule and they would have a higher standard of living. These promises worked and in an election held June 17, 2001, the NMS won 120 out of 240 seats in Parliament, overturning both of Bulgaria's entrenched parties. Sakskoburggotski was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bulgaria on July 24, forming a coalition with the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). He assembled a cabinet composed mainly of technocrats and Western-educated economic specialists, with an eye towards eventual membership in the European Union. In 2005, he formed a new coalition government consisting not only of NMSII and MRF but also of New Time, a splinter group from NMSII.

Sakskoburggotski made no public commitment on whether he believes Bulgaria should restore the monarchy, saying it is a matter for the people of Bulgaria to decide. As he never formally abdicated he retains the claim to his royal title and has not renounced it. His oath to the Republican Constitution in 2001, however, was seen as a rejection of monarchy. High-ranking representatives of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (which was given a boost during Sakskoburggotski's term as Prime Minister) declared that they would join an eventual discussion about the restoration of monarchy although it seems very unlikely that the majority of Bulgarians would support the idea in a plebiscite.

Simeon's popularity faded during his four year rule as prime minister. Many Bulgarians attributed that to his inability to keep his promises, in particular the failure of the 800 days economic quick fix program to meet popular expectations. There were also allegations that his government was involved in corrupt privatisation deals.

Sakskoburggotski has always refused to take part in political debates. This has been largely attributed to both his inability to speak Bulgarian clearly and concisely and his aristocratic nature. However, no one has yet given an explanation why he does not take part.

Defeat

At the June 25, 2005 elections, Sakskoburggotski's party polled only 20% of the vote, being overtaken by the Socialists with 31%, although no single party won a majority of seats. After nearly a month of political uncertainty, Sergei Stanishev of the Bulgarian Socialist Party undertook on July 20 to form a Cabinet. When Sakskoburggostski refused to take part in a coalition government, on July 27 the BSP formed a coalition with the MRF. Stanishev's Cabinet, however, was rejected by the Parliament. After another three weeks of deadlock, Sakskoburggotski agreed on 16 August to join a three-party coalition government headed by Stanishev. Sakskoburggotski is yet to reveal his future intentions.

Children

• Kardam of Saxe-Coburg, styled Prince of Tirnovo (born 1962). Married Doña Miriam Ungria y López. They have two sons, Boris and Beltran.
• Kyrill, styled Prince of Preslav (born 1964). Married Doña Rosario Nadal y Fuster-Puigdorfila. They have two daughters, Mafalda and Olimpia, and one son, Tassilo.
• Kubrat, styled Prince of Panagiúrishte (born 1965). Married Doña Carla Maria Royo-Villanova y Urrestarazu and have three sons: Mirko, Lukás and Tirso.
• Konstantin-Assen, styled Prince of Vidin (born 1967). Married Doña María Garcia de la Rasilla y Gortazar and have twins, Umberto and Sofia.
• Kalina (born 1972). Married Don Antonio "Kitín" Muñoz Valcárcel.

Their courtesy titles were downplayed by Simeon after he became Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

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See also

• List of monarchs who lost their thrones or abdicated in the 20th century

External links

• Financial Times July 2001 Biography
• Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's address, February 10, 2005 concerning amending the constitution to bring it in line with EU requirements
• Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's statement, July 5, 2002 concerning Bulgaria's candidacy for NATO membership: "The role of the international community should be gradually transformed from crisis response to integration. Palliative measures intended to mitigate yet another crisis cannot bring stability and prosperity. The best solution is the region's integration into the European and Euroatlantic institutions."
• [1] NMSII website
• [2] MRF website
• [3] New Time website