A King, Aspiring to Democracy

Simeon II, the commoner formerly known as king, has reentered public life in his native Bulgaria and received--what else--a royal welcome.

The political party he founded just weeks ago, modestly named the National Movement for Simeon II, this week won an expected half of the 240 seats in parliament. Simeon is being coy about his future intentions. He could become Bulgaria’s figurehead president or, if the residency law is changed, even prime minister. He has not disavowed ambitions for a restored monarch.

Simeon Borissov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was only 6 when he ascended the throne in 1937 after the sudden death of his father, Boris III, who had just been off visiting Hitler. Simeon didn’t do much real king stuff because various grown-up regents took care of things. After the Soviet Union rigged a vote in 1946 that abolished the monarchy, Simeon and his mother wisely decamped to friendlier shores.

Bulgaria hasn’t had an easy time recovering from the corruption and depredations of Communist rule, but it is making progress. Simeon says he stands for democracy and honest and efficient government. He is popular at home, especially among young people, and he has good connections around the Continent, including more relatives in both the active and decrepit royal houses of Europe than he can shake a scepter at. In all, he is a man to watch.