All Eyes on Simeon, But Can He Deliver on Election Promises?

"Simeon lived through everything before he was nine and through nothing after that," a French journalist wrote some years ago.

However, he was proved wrong by the fact that Simeon II, the former king of Bulgaria, emerged as the winner in the fifth parliamentary election on Sunday, becoming the first ex-monarch to return to power in an east European country through elections.

After five decades in exile in Spain, the deposed monarch, now a successful businessman, returned to Bulgaria early this year. He launched a new movement bearing his name on April 6 and then kicked off his election campaign under the banner "New Morality in Politics."

Court registration for the election by Simeon, who turned 64 on Saturday, was rendered possible after two minor unknown parties joined forces with his movement and formed the Simeon II National Movement (SNM).

On June 17 when voters cast their ballots in the parliamentary election, the royal coalition attracted the support of both prestige-seeking and protesting voters, young and old, well- educated and unemployed.

It will take a little more time to determine the exact majority which the royal coalition will command in the parliament: whether it will be absolute or slightly smaller. Whatever it is, Simeon will have the decisive say on the government from now on. All eyes are on him and on his coalition.

The ex-king himself did not run for the parliament, inviting speculation that he wanted to avoid the awkwardness of swearing allegiance to a republican constitution and save himself for a restoration of the monarchy in the longer term (which he denies), especially now that the Constitutional Court has disqualified him from standing for the presidency later this year.

"After today, Bulgaria will never be the same. Together we are embarking on a new road of economic and moral renewal. It will not be easy, there will be lots of difficulties, but we won't give up, " Simeon, visibly moved, said at his first post-election news conference.

Born in Sofia in 1937, Simeon acceded to the throne in August 1943 after the sudden death of his father, King Boris III. Since he was a minor, a Regency Council ruled on his behalf.

"I have been an adult since the age of six," said the ex-king about that time.

At the age of nine, after a referendum that abolished the monarchy and declared Bulgaria a republic, he and the rest of the royal family fled Bulgaria. He lived in exile for nearly 50 years, most of the time in Madrid, Spain.

His first homecoming in 1996 was welcomed with some enthusiasm. He has since basked in popular delight.

However, the royal coalition's election victory was by no means all rosy. Simeon drew a barrage of ferocious fire from his critics who say his promises are rash, he cannot possibly improve living standards in 800 days.

At the news conference, Simeon said his National Movement will seek to form a coalition government with other political forces in the country.

The SNM is open to those who share the principal ideas of its program: sustained economic growth, accelerated accession to the European Union (EU) and NATO, ridding Bulgaria of corruption, heightened accountability of everyone who exercises power, and stable legislation conforming to European standards, said the former king.






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