Simeon of Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s would-be ruler, one of Europe’s resurgent royals
“TODAY I declare my goal: to found and lead a movement in the name of new ethics in politics, new economic decisions, new ideas and new leaders. With this address, I declare the birth of the Simeon IINational Movement.” At last, a moderniser for Bulgaria and its democracy: God save Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburggotski! He declares himself worried by poverty in his country, and by the contrasting opulence of its leaders. His movement, set up in April, hopes, in alliance with a women's party, for “overwhelming” support in Bulgaria's general election on June 17th. But this bearded, Madrid-based businessman of 63, fond of brown jerseys and cigarillos, is not quite your average modern democrat. He is a king.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Simeon of Bulgaria”
From the June 9th 2001 edition
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