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Simeon II (born June 16, 1937) was the last Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943 to 1946, and is the current Prime Minister of Bulgaria. He now uses the name Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski (Симеон Сакскобурготски) but is often known outside Bulgaria as Simeon (or Simon) of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, which is the English form of his German family name Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha. He is the only monarch in history to regain political power through democratic election to a different office (see Norodom Sihanouk for the nearest similar history). Simeon was baptized with water taken from the River Jordan and flown to Bulgaria by an air force major. He became Tsar on August 28, 1943 upon the sudden death of his father, Tsar Boris III. Since he was still a minor, his uncle, Prince Kyril of Bulgaria and two others were appointed regents. On the 9th September 1944, Kyril and the other regents were removed by an antifascist coup. Kyril was later tried and executed. Simeon was allowed to stay on the throne with regents apointed by the new government. A 1946 referendum voted to abolish the monarchy, and the royal family left the country without Simeon abdicating.
They initially went to Egypt, before settling in Madrid. In Spain, Simeon studied law and business administration, and went on to become a successful businessman.
In 2001 Simeon returned to Bulgaria, and was elected leader of the newly-formed National Movement for Simeon II. In elections held later that year, the NMS won 120 out of 240 seats in Parliament. On July 24, 2001, Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bulgaria. He has remained coy on whether he believes Bulgaria should restore the monarchy, saying it is a matter for "the people" to decide. As he never formally abdicated he retains the claim to his royal title and has not renounced it.
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