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Monarchy may be just the ticket for a struggling postcommunist land.
A man I once met--and in whose exquisite company I spent the better part of an afternoon five years ago, taking oolong tea with pastries, followed by a glass of silken cognac for the road--is in the news this week. And I couldn't be more delighted.
I write of Simeon II, or Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, whose party just won at least half of the seats in Bulgaria's parliamentary elections--120 out of 240.
Simeon II, or, if you prefer, just plain Mr. Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, is a man who, had he not had to flee for his life from Bulgaria's Communists in 1946--and into exile, age nine--would almost certainly have been his country's king today. Instead, he is now spoken of as a likely candidate for Bulgaria's next prime minister--though he has stated clearly that he'd rather see someone else in that job. Personally, I hope he sticks to his word, and does not allow his arm to be twisted by exuberant supporters. I do not want him to be the Bulgarian prime minister. I want him to be king.
I met Simeon in Madrid, the city he made his home shortly after his escape from Bulgaria. Gen. Francisco Franco, of whom it is fashionable now to say unkind things, took him into Spain with open arms. Were he alive today, Franco--whose restoration of the Spanish monarchy laid the foundation for a stable, modern and democratic Spain--would marvel at events in Bulgaria. After all, it took an election--a concept of which the old caudillo was not overly fond--to restore to center stage the nice young boy he once gave refuge. It is a measure of Simeon's integrity--and of his chivalry--that he did not once utter a critical word about Franco when we met. I believe he has never once bad-mouthed the late autocrat in public. He could so easily do so, and win brownie points from Europe's lazy "progressives"; but the man, born to be king, does not easily forget his debts.
I met Simeon in his Madrid home in order to write a detailed profile. To my great chagrin, my foreign editor--I was then with the London Times, as the Madrid bureau chief--showed no interest in the copy I sent him. I had sought out the ex-king on my own initiative, but the desk in London had not the vision to appreciate that Simeon would one day be "a story." I was told, brusquely, to write about bullfighters instead, and so my copy withered on the vine. Simeon was charming about it, of course. I can't remember his exact words, but he said something soothing like Caballero, no se preocupe, or "Don't worry, dear sir," when I told him dejectedly, over the phone, that the paper didn't give a fig about the piece.
That's not the only reason I warmed to Simeon, although his grace in the face of a setback--yes, it was a setback, for a profile in the London Times would have made waves for him in Bulgaria back in 1996--was admirable. I recall the irrefutable evidence, in his speech and conversation, of breeding, education and thoughtfulness, as well as a real, unfeigned modesty. I was struck, too, by his simple patriotism--by his profession of love for Bulgaria that was neither hokey nor patronizing--as well as by his grasp of market economics. Above all, I came away with the impression that he would not enter the political fray in Bulgaria--or "meddle in politics," as his oafish detractors are wont to say--unless he were sure that the people there welcomed his presence.
I think something very important has happened in Bulgaria this week, and that we are on course for a tectonic shift in that country's politics. Bulgaria longs to join hands with the more modern nations of Europe, and shake off the grime of its communist and postcommunist past. The restoration of the throne, and of Simeon II, a modern man--a businessman, for that is what he's been all these years--will give that country a new foundation on which to construct its politics afresh. Bulgarians will take their time to warm again to the idea of their monarchy--revolutions, after all, need a period of incubation--but I have no doubt that they will do so, and not before too long.
The return to the throne of Simeon will be nothing short of a political revolution, one with repercussions that could go well beyond Bulgaria's borders. The fractious, dilapidated societies of the former Soviet bloc--at least those outside Central Europe--need figureheads who can, to put it colorfully, sip oolong tea from the finest china while being adept, also, at breaking bread with gypsies or sharing a schnapps with a rural farmer or coal miner. These societies need figureheads, splendid personages who inspire confidence and respect, who transcend their ugly postwar histories and help foster the virtues of political moderation and tolerance.
I wager that Bulgaria will have a king by its next parliamentary elections. That king, for sure, will be Simeon II.
Mr. Varadarajan is deputy editorial features editor of The Wall Street Journal. His column will appear Fridays in May.
"I do not want him to be the Bulgarian prime minister. I want him to be king. "
The return to the throne of Simeon will be nothing short of a political revolution, one with repercussions that could go well beyond Bulgaria's borders...
Vivat S II Rex! What a great article! He even got in a plug for the Caudillo!
We FR Monarchists ought to pool our resources and send HM a congratulatory telegram. Maybe we could wrangle free invites to the Coronation...
You guys have to shift attention from Nepal.
We FR Monarchists ought to pool our resources and send HM a congratulatory telegram.
I cannot recall the others here. Do you know who they are? Perhaps you can flag them. This is as good a thread as any to have it out on monarchies, I think. Also, do a search on this writer. He has done some wonderful work on monarchy in the past. Someone to keep an eye out for.
monarchy bump
Well, I wouldn't call myself a monarchist per se, but I do support limited government.
It seems like Simeon II would be a much-needed source of stability for this troubled police state.
Well, I wouldn't call myself a monarchist per se, but I do support limited government.
No, I know that. But I thought you would appreciate it nevertheless.
Indeed I did.
"The fractious, dilapidated societies of the former Soviet bloc--at least those outside Central Europe--need figureheads . . ."
Respectfully, NO, they do not! They need proper monarchs. King Simeon is more than qualified to be head of state AND chief of state. This is in accordance with the principles of true monarchy, as opposed to that charade they have in London and elsewhere. If King Simeon were incompetent or senile, but nevertheless loved by the people, perhaps then it would be appropriate to speak in terms of figureheads, but a man of such obvious practical ability should not be relegated to a mere tourist attraction.
If a monarch merely reigns, but does not rule, then he provides a veneer of legitimacy for whatever depradations are carried out in his name by elected officials. The "Windsors" are a case in point. HM Queen Elizabeth has presided over the disarming of her people, the destruction of the hereditary peerage, and the progressive de-Anglicisation of England. In such a case, the monarchy is worse than useless.
No more figureheads! Vivat Rex!
Excellent points. I suppose I was so pleased to see any pro-monarchist sentiment in the mainstream press that I overlooked some of the article's faults. You are completely correct. I just don't think a decent man like Simeon has it in him to do what it will take to grasp power in this way.
I don't think he will have to grasp power. He and his family are apparently already well enough positioned that they can be carried to the throne on a wave of popular support. His eldest son is a financial advisor to the current president, and King Simeon himself is considered the third highest in national popularity, behind the president and the mayor of Sophia.
Not surprisingly, King and President are reputed to be on very good terms. This scenario has "they lived happily ever after" written all over it.
I hope you are right. It indeed sounds very good.
His eldest son is a financial advisor to the current president, and King Simeon himself is considered the third highest in national popularity, behind the president and the mayor of Sophia.
I would add two important things, one from the PR area, another of practical meaning. Let's begin from the latter: I read HM's programme of economic measures (in Bulgarian, from the official web-site of his movement), and it is as clear and reasonable document as it gets. It's for the first time in the recent Bulgarian history that you have a programme so well put together that it even has serious chances to be implemented. No quackery, no gobbledygook, no sh*t. Let's hope that the people of the country will occupy themselves helping their former (and future!) king to succeed. Unfortunately, an ancient Bulgarian habit is firstly to say: 'No chance, nothing will result from this'. And Bulgarian pundits are already busy like hell explaining why the royal programme is doomed... Now to PR. Something I learned from my daughter - Prince Kiril of Bulgaria has done it to the list of the 50 most beautiful men in the world (like Kerry Grant and so on)! Female support will make the royal family standing stronger than ever.
Vivat Rex!
From another believer in dynastic monarchy as the natural from of human governance - and yes, an executive monarch, not a cutter of ribbons.
Welcome to the small but solid FR "monarchist underground." It appears we are on our way to having our own "bump list."
It's for the first time in the recent Bulgarian history that you have a programme so well put together that it even has serious chances to be implemented.
But the only chance for success is if he gives Western "advice" on "reform" his middle finger and instead does it his own way. Otherwise his fate will be exactly that of his right and left predecessors.
IMO, one of the biggest advantages of Simeon is that he is not a former associate professor in political economy of socialism like the last Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov. He is a businessman, he has, as it rightly told in the text above, a lifelong experience with market economy. For instance, he managed for some time personal finances of the Rabat throne. So Western spin-doctors wouldn't be able to peddle him their BS.
Alas, the big question still stands: would they hesitate politically to press HM into submission?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
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