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28-410: The party was created as a personal vehicle of Simeon of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Simeon II), the last Bulgarian Tsar (albeit nominally), who was deposed following the 1944 Bulgarian coup d'état , for his successful bid to become Prime Minister of Bulgaria in 2001. Simeon served as prime minister until 2005 and the party remained part of the governing coalition until 2009, when they lost all their seats in

56-522: A referendum was held in the presence of the Soviet army. It proposed abolishing the monarchy and declaring a republic. Official figures showed a 95.6% approval for ending 68 years of monarchy. This referendum actually violated the Tarnovo Constitution , which held that any change in the form of the state could only be implemented by a Grand National Assembly convened by the tsar. On 16 September 1946,

84-639: A coalition led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party. NDSV member Meglena Kuneva served as Bulgarian EU Commissioner charged with consumer protection in the First Barroso Commission from Bulgaria's entry to the EU in 2007 until 2010. The party changed its name in June 2007, removing the name of the founder and leader and replacing it with "Stability and Progress", but retaining its Bulgarian acronym NDSV. At

112-444: A daughter, Kalina, all of whom subsequently married Spaniards . All of his sons received names of Bulgarian Tsars, his daughter has a Bulgarian name, although only four of his eleven grandchildren have Bulgarian names (Boris, Sofia, Mirko and Simeon). In 1990, just months after the fall of communism , Simeon was issued a new Bulgarian passport . In 1996, fifty years after the abolition of the monarchy, Simeon returned to Bulgaria and

140-543: A large victory in the parliamentary elections held on 17 June 2001 , capturing 120 of the 240 seats in Parliament and defeating the two main pre-existing political parties. Simeon was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bulgaria on 24 July, forming a coalition with the ethnic Turkish-led party, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). He gave ministerial positions in his government mainly to technocrats and Western-educated economic specialists. During his time in power, he received

168-641: A meeting with Adolf Hitler . Since Simeon was only six years old, his uncle Prince Kiril , Prime Minister Bogdan Filov , and Lt. General Nikola Mihov of the Bulgarian Army were appointed regents . Under his father, Bulgaria joined the Axis powers in World War II but managed to preserve diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. Still, on 5 September 1944 Stalin declared war on Bulgaria and three days later,

196-616: A statement published on its website on 1 May 2015, the Bulgarian Patriarchate announced that Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha will be referred to as Tsar of Bulgaria in all public and private services held in the dioceses of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In addition to the books listed in the References, the following may be mentioned: 2023 Bulgarian parliamentary election Too Many Requests If you report this error to

224-665: Is a Bulgarian politician who reigned as the last Tsar of the Tsardom of Bulgaria as Simeon II from 1943 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished by a referendum , forcing Simeon into exile . Following the fall of communism in Bulgaria , Simeon returned to his home country in 1996, and founded the National Movement for Stability and Progress party (also known as the National Movement Simeon II party). After winning

252-524: The 14th Dalai Lama , although both held mostly symbolic roles in their government's position. Simeon was born to Boris III of Bulgaria and Giovanna of Italy . Following his birth, Boris III sent an air force officer to the Jordan River to obtain water for Simeon's baptism in the Orthodox faith. He succeeded to the throne on 28 August 1943 upon the death of his father, who had just returned to Bulgaria from

280-505: The 2001 election as its leader, Sakskoburggotski proceeded to govern Bulgaria as prime minister of the Republic of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005. Simeon was six years old when his father Boris III of Bulgaria died in 1943. Royal power was exercised on his behalf by a regency council led by Simeon's uncle Kiril, Prince of Preslav , General Nikola Mihov and prime minister, Bogdan Filov . Following his premiership from 2001 to 2005, in

308-500: The 2001 elections . One seat short of an absolute majority, it formed a coalition with the ethnic minority party Movement for Rights and Freedoms with Simeon Sakskoburggotski (his official name in Bulgarian since the end of monarchy) becoming prime minister. NDSV's popularity decreased markedly when Simeon failed to fulfill his promises within the specified time. However, it was during Simeon's term that Bulgaria entered NATO and prepared

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336-493: The 2022 Bulgarian parliamentary election . Following the 2014 election, the party's national council elected Stanimir Ilchev , Olimpi Katev , and Sabi Davidov , as co-chairmen of the party in their 8th convocation in 2015. There would not be another convocation of the national council until 2023. The council, which had largely been vacant, was revitalized and former prime minister Ognyan Gerdzhikov announced in December 2022 that

364-601: The Bulgaria for Citizens Movement . In the 2013 parliamentary election , the NDSV did not field any candidates. In the 2014 election , it won just 0.24% of the votes, while the party decided not to run in the 2017 election . The party did not participate in any of the elections in 2021 for failure to gain the 2,500 signatures required. The party would not stand for any of the elections in 2021, in April , July or November and did not stand for

392-500: The European parliamentary election of June 2009 the party gained 7.96% of the votes and took two out of the seventeen seats. However, a month later the party got just 3.01% of votes in the July 2009 parliamentary elections , falling short of the 4% election threshold for representation. The next day, on 6 July, Simeon resigned as NDSV leader. In July 2012 Meglena Kuneva left the party to establish

420-526: The next election , as leader of NDSV, Sakskoburggotski entered a coalition government with the Bulgarian Socialist Party , as his party finished second in the election. In 2009, after NDSV failed to win any seats in the National Assembly, he retired from politics. As of 25 November 2024 , Simeon is one of only two living men who were heads of state during World War II , along with

448-623: The 4% threshold for seats in the National Assembly. On 12 May 2023, NDSV held a party conference, at which it was agreed that a re-branding of the party was necessary, additionally, major organizational flaws inside the party were noted by its Chairman, Stranimir Ilchev. National groups: * observer *associate member **observer Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha The Tsar The Tsaritsa Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha ( Bulgarian : Симеон Борисов Сакскобургготски , romanized :  Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski , [simeˈɔn boˈrisof sakskoburˈɡɔtski] ; born 16 June 1937)

476-667: The Coalition Council. In the 2009 elections , the party got just 3.01% of the votes and no parliamentary seats. Shortly after, on 6 July, Simeon also resigned as NMSP leader. Although not yet formally renouncing his claim to the Bulgarian throne, Simeon and his family take part in long orchestrated media campaigns and moves throughout Bulgarian political space. He used the title "Tsar of the Bulgarians" in his political statements during his exile. Since his return to Bulgaria, however, Simeon has consistently avoided revealing his views on

504-491: The National Assembly. NDSV was founded in April 2001, only 11 weeks ahead of a parliamentary election, after former Tsar Simeon II had announced his intention to become involved in the political life of Bulgaria. He promised to attract foreign investors, reduce taxes and uproot corruption within the first 800 days of his premiership. The movement met with immediate enthusiasm and won 42.7% of the popular vote and 120 out of 240 seats in

532-503: The Path to Peace Award from the Path to Peace Foundation in 2002. Bulgaria next joined NATO and joined the U.S.-led coalition against Iraq. In the 2005 elections , Simeon's party ranked second and participated in the grand coalition government led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party and including the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. Simeon was given the unofficial ceremonial post of Chairman of

560-824: The Red Army entered the country without encountering resistance. On the next day, 9 September 1944, Prince Kiril and the other regents were deposed by a Soviet -backed coup and arrested. The three regents, all members of the last three governments, Parliament deputies, heads of the army and eminent journalists were executed by the Communists in February 1947. The royal family — Queen Giovanna, Simeon, and his sister Maria-Louisa — remained at Vrana Palace , near Sofia, while three new regents were appointed, all Communists ( Todor Pavlov , Venelin Ganev and Tsvetko Boboshevski ). On 15 September 1946,

588-769: The United States, where he was known as "Cadet Rylski No. 6883", and he graduated as a second lieutenant. Once again in Spain (between 1959 and 1962), Simeon studied law and business administration. He then became a businessman. For thirteen years, he was chairman of the Spanish subsidiary of Thomson , a French defense and electronics group. He was also an adviser in the banking, hotel, electronics, and catering sectors. On 21 January 1962, Simeon married Spanish aristocrat, Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela . The couple had five children – four sons (Kardam, Kiril, Kubrat and Konstantin) and

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616-585: The economic and political stability that was prerequisite for the country becoming a member of the European Union in 2007. The NDSV party became a full member of the Liberal International at its Sofia Congress in May 2005. At the 2005 parliamentary election , NDSV's share of votes dropped to 19.9% and its number of seats in parliament dropped to 53. It did, however, remain in office as the junior partner in

644-511: The family. In Madrid , Simeon studied at the Lycée Français . On 16 June 1955, upon turning 18, in accordance with the Tarnovo Constitution , Simeon read a proclamation to the Bulgarian people, claiming that he was Tsar of Bulgaria and confirming his will to be Tsar of all Bulgarians and to follow the principles contrary to those of the communist regime then ruling Bulgaria. In 1958, he enrolled at Valley Forge Military Academy and College in

672-607: The monarchy's governance before 1945. In 2001, Simeon, who had by this time taken the name Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha , announced he would return to Bulgaria to form a new political party, the National Movement Simeon II (later renamed to NMSP), dedicated to "reforms and political integrity." Simeon promised that in 800 days the Bulgarian people would feel tangible positive effects of his government and would enjoy significantly higher standards of living. NMSP won

700-500: The party's national council was formed and that they would convene for a 9th convocation to elect a new chairman of the party in January of 2023. Ilchev was elected the party's sole chairman. A month before this announcement Simeon Sakskoburggotski held a closed door meeting with the Russian ambassador. The party received 0.26% of the vote in the 2023 Bulgarian parliamentary election well below

728-574: The restoration of the Bulgarian monarchy, notwithstanding the original name of his party. Upon taking office as Prime Minister, Simeon swore to uphold the republican constitution. Simeon wrote an autobiography in French under the title Siméon II de Bulgarie, un destin singulier that was released in Bulgaria on 28 October 2014. It was first presented at the headquarters of the UNESCO in Paris on 22 October 2014. In

756-420: The royal family was exiled from Bulgaria while given a way to take out large amount of movable property. They first went to Alexandria , Egypt, where Simeon's grandfather Victor Emmanuel III , the former king of Italy, lived in exile. There, in 1951, Simeon studied at Victoria College (along with Crown Prince Leka of Albania ). In July 1951, General Francisco Franco 's dictatorship in Spain granted asylum to

784-400: Was met in many places by crowds of approval. He did not, at that point, make any political announcements or moves, as he had already denied in a TV interview (1990) to have any material property claims against Bulgaria. However, these social sentiments gradually disappeared after his premiership, with Simeon making moves to take back large areas or real estate property in Bulgaria that was under

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