King Simeon May Run for President of Bulgaria!

Hristina Hristova, the new leader of NMSP, the party of former Tsar and Prime Minister, did not exclude the possibility of him running for President. File photo
Bulgaria's former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, may run for presidency in the upcoming 2011 elections.

In an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, Hristina Hristova, the new leader of NMSP, the party of former Tsar and Prime Minister, commented the recent rumors about Saxe-Coburg's alleged new political aims.

"An experienced politician like him could still be useful for Bulgaria," Hristova said, pointing out that the he has a formidable international reputation.

She described Saxe-Coburg's term as Prime Minister (2001-2005) as "peaceful" in contrast with the current government's work.

Saxe-Coburg himself has not yet stated whether he will run for President, Hristova clarified. However, rumors say that Bulgaria's former EU Commissioner Meglena Kuneva may be chosen as the former Prime Minister's candidate for vice-President, if his reported candidacy is to materialize.

Critics claim that Saxe-Coburg used his position as a Prime Minister, and later as one of the governing coalition leaders to receive ownership of estates that never technically belonged to the Bulgarian royal family before 1944.

NMSP failed to overcome the 4% electoral barrier and enter the Bulgarian Parliament in the 2009 elections.