Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Bulgarian politician and royal (born 1937) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Bulgarian: Симеон Борисов Сакскобургготски, romanized: Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski, [simeˈɔn boˈrisof sakskoburˈɡɔtski]; born 16 June 1937) is a Bulgarian monarch and politician who reigned as the last Tsar of the Tsardom of Bulgaria as Simeon II from 1943 until 1946.[1] 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 Simeon the Second party. After winning the 2001 election as its leader, Sakskoburggotski proceeded to govern Bulgaria as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2005.[2]
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha | |||||||||||||
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Симеон Сакскобургготски | |||||||||||||
Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |||||||||||||
In office 24 July 2001 – 17 August 2005 | |||||||||||||
President | Petar Stoyanov Georgi Parvanov | ||||||||||||
Deputy | Nikolay Vasilev Lydia Shuleva Kostadin Paskalev Plamen Panayotov | ||||||||||||
Preceded by | Ivan Kostov | ||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Sergey Stanishev | ||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||
Born | (1937-06-16) 16 June 1937 (age 87) Vrana Palace, Sofia, Tsardom of Bulgaria | ||||||||||||
Political party | Independent (2009–present) | ||||||||||||
Other political affiliations | National Movement Simeon the Second (2001–2009) | ||||||||||||
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Alma mater | Valley Forge Military Academy and College | ||||||||||||
Tsar of Bulgaria | |||||||||||||
Reign | 28 August 1943 – 15 September 1946 Regents' council | ||||||||||||
Predecessor | Boris III | ||||||||||||
Successor | Monarchy abolished Vasil Kolarov (as Acting President) | ||||||||||||
Regent | See list
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Prime Ministers | |||||||||||||
House | Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry | ||||||||||||
Religion | Eastern Orthodox | ||||||||||||
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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 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 20 July 2024[update], Simeon is one of only two living people who were heads of states during World War II, along with the 14th Dalai Lama, although both held mostly symbolic roles in their government's position.