In a moment of strange maneuvers in Parliament for decision making with a floating majority and of first reshuffles in the second Borissov cabinet, an initiative committee of some 100 Bulgarian politicians, public figures and sports persons appealed with a strange statement for “an objective view of… the options for a future contribution of Tsar Simeon II to the development of contemporary Bulgaria”. The appeal was taken as an attempt for a return of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha back into this country’s political life. He dropped out of it after he had been a tsar-premier in the period 2001 – 2005 and a partner within the triple coalition BSP, MRF and NDSV /2005 – 2009/. After that he got lost to political life.

The entering of Simeon II into Bulgarian politics years ago had been initiated also by intellectuals, but it attracted broad public attention back then. Now, 7 days after the new appeal for his return to politics there are no particular reactions. It seems like the will of the intellectuals has been neglected not only by all parliamentary forces, but also by the party, which had brought the Tsar to the rule the first time. Though having been extra-parliamentary and with a changed name /from National Movement Simeon II to National Movement for Stability and Progress/ for more than 6 years now, the party still preserves its initial abbreviation, in order for the relation to the old patron to be remembered. Recently, current NDSV Chair Antonia Parvanova congratulated the wife of Simeon Saxe-Coburg – Margarita on her birthday, by calling her Your Majesty, but she still hasn’t said anything about the political revival of Simeon II. Is it because of the spreading idea on the movement’s dismissal due to a mission completed? But then, why should its patron Simeon II remain within politics, the way the members of the initiative committee view it?

Their ideas are controversial and confusing. One of them stated that Bulgaria had become an EU and NATO member-state thanks to Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. However, objective facts have it that the accession to both unions had been prepared by a series of Bulgarian governments and even if Simeon II had wished to stop the process, he wouldn’t have been able to do so – there had been treaties signed by his predecessors. Another member of the initiative committee commented that Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha could be used by the National Assembly and the government for a special mission. His eventual informal talks are claimed to be able to open more doors for Bulgaria’s Schengen accession than all ministers can. As if the Schengen accession comes as a result of personal charisma and not due to the meeting of specific political and diplomatic criteria…

The supporters from the political committee also propose that Simeon II to be given the possibility to perform special political and diplomatic functions via an institution, named Bulgarian Crown. This is a legal paradox, which also neglects the constitutional form of Bulgaria’s governing – it is a parliamentary republic, not a monarchy. Still another champion for Simeon Saxe-Coburg’s return to politics compared him to a Mercedes unfit for the mud of Bulgarian political life. It is somehow strange a politician who has dropped out of the political life to say that the acting politicians are mud – the latter have been elected via polls and not following the recommendations of fans. Some of the initiators cited in the appeal actually haven’t signed it at the same time.

There are too many peculiarities around this case to look for their satisfactory explanation and find a rational answer. However there is nothing strange or new about this situation. The Bulgarians have long now got used to asking “who?”, “what?” and “why?” without finding or being given adequate answers…

English version: Zhivko Stanchev