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Former king's Party Leads in Bulgaria Vote
Bulgarian voters flocked Sunday to the party of a former king who was ousted as a child 55 years ago, setting the stage for the first return by a monarch to political power in ex-communist Europe.
With 30 percent of votes counted in parliamentary elections, former King Simeon II's party, the National Movement Simeon II, led with 46 percent, the electoral commission said. The governing Union of Democratic Forces of Prime Minister Ivan Kostov was second with 20 percent.
Kostov conceded defeat Sunday night, blaming his party's loss on the heavy burden of attempts to reform the impoverished economy.
Final official results are expected Wednesday, and it won't be known until after seats are assigned whether Simeon's National Movement will need a coalition partner to govern.
Simeon leads his political movement but hasn't said if he is interested in becoming prime minister. He does, however, deny any desire to restore the monarchy.
At a news conference late Sunday, Simeon said that he is ready to offer a coalition to "all parties who share our program."
According to the preliminary results, the Socialist Party came in third, with 16 percent; followed by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, composed mainly of ethnic Turks, which had 4.5 percent; and 4 percent to a new coalition of two center-right parties, Gergyovden-VMRO. A total of 50 parties and coalitions ran in the election. Turnout was about 66 percent.
After five decades in exile in Spain, Simeon returned to Bulgaria early this year to cheering throngs.
Initially hoping to run for president but barred by the courts because he has not lived in Bulgaria long enough, Simeon set up his own party to run in the parliamentary race.
Riding a wave of antipathy toward the current political elite in the Balkan nation, Simeon has pledged to raise living standards, and bring decency into public life.
Simeon acceded to the throne in 1943, at age 6, after the death of his father, Boris III. He reigned under regents until 1946, when the communists called a referendum that abolished the monarchy. The royal family went into exile, eventually settling in Spain.
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