BULGARIA: BULGARIA'S EX-KING SIMEON II LEADS HIS TWO-MONTH-OLD POLITICAL MOVEMENT TO GENERAL ELECTION VICTORY
Record ID:
646888
BULGARIA: BULGARIA'S EX-KING SIMEON II LEADS HIS TWO-MONTH-OLD POLITICAL MOVEMENT TO GENERAL ELECTION VICTORY
- Title: BULGARIA: BULGARIA'S EX-KING SIMEON II LEADS HIS TWO-MONTH-OLD POLITICAL MOVEMENT TO GENERAL ELECTION VICTORY
- Date: 17th June 2001
- Summary: (W1) SOFIA, BULGARIA (JUNE 17-18, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV ELECTIONS PRESS CENTRE 0.04 2. MCU QUEEN MARGARITA (WIFE OF EX-KING SIMEON II) 0.14 3. SV/MCU FAMILY OF KING SIMEON SITTING (3 SHOTS) 0.40 4. LV PRESS CENTRE/KING SIMEON WALKING SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS (2 SHOTS) 0.49 5. MCU KING SIMEON WALKING 0.53 6. LV KING SIMEON ADDRESSING AUDIENCE (2 SHOTS) 1.06 7. SV/MCU (English) POLITICAL CANDIDATE KING SIMEON II SAYING: "I think that Bulgaria is not the same anymore. I am sure that from today we are on the road of Bulgaria's spiritual revival. Despite sometimes strong words towards us during the campaign, we look forward to a coalition government with equal political powers, and who share the main concepts of our programme: first; Steady economical growth, second; Membership to Nato and EU, third; Getting rid of corruption." (2 SHOTS) 1.51 8. LV/SV AUDIENCE (2 SHOTS) 2.04 9. MCU/LV KING SIMEON ADDRESSING AUDIENCE (2 SHOTS) 2.13 10. MCU KING SIMEON SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS 2.20 11. LV/SV AUDIENCE/IVAN KOSTOV, THE LEADER OF UDF, LOOKING AROUND (2 SHOTS) 2.44 12. MCU/SLV/SV (English) UDF LEADER, IVAN KOSTOV SAYING: "We think that the main reasons for our very bad election results are that for the last four years we have been very busy with several projects. We were too busy trying to stabilise the country, politically and financially, and trying to implement a reform at the same time. We congratulate the winners in the elections - the National movement Simeon II, and we expect they will continue with the same course with even more speed. I know what people expect me to do in this moment and I will do this when and where it is most appropriate for the UDF."/AUDIENCE (4 SHOTS) 3.43 13. SV/SLV/LV VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE (5 SHOTS) 4.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd July 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SOFIA, BULGARIA
- Country: Bulgaria
- Reuters ID: LVA4T3VMRUSW16R1YPB2E3FFPQHL
- Story Text: Bulgaria's ex-King Simeon II led his two-month-old
political movement to a resounding general election victory,
leaving main-line parties to bargain for a place in an offered
coalition.
As the vote counting was drawing to a close in Bulgaria
the ex-king was leading in the polls.
Prime Minister Ivan Kostov admitted that his Union of
Democratic Forces (UDF) party had suffered "a heavy election
defeat" in Sunday's vote (June 17), and hinted at stepping
down as party leader.
A visibly elated Simeon told a news conference: "After
today, Bulgaria is different."
At the age of 64, Simeon becomes the first ex-monarch to
regain political power in a former East European communist
state.
Aides said projections gave his National Movement for
Simeon II 43 percent of the vote, similar to most exit polls.
This would translate into 117 seats in the 240-member single
chamber parliament. Further results could give him an absolute
majority.
Official results for parties and coalitions are due within
four days, and for individual seats in seven days.
Simeon was not running personally and he has not said how
he sees his future role.
Nikolai Vasilev, head of the movement's economic team,
said on Sunday Simeon was equally likely to become prime
minister or to remain behind the scenes.
The tall, bald and bearded former king was exiled from
Bulgaria at the age of nine -- three years after acceding to
the throne -- after a rigged referendum abolished the monarchy
in 1946.
He ran a business consultancy in Madrid before entering
politics in Bulgaria in April. He voted for the first time in
his life to a hero's welcome in a Sofia suburb on Sunday.
Despite the victory, Simeon said he favoured the formation
of a broad coalition government. But he said it would be with
those who shared his priorities.
These were speedy economic growth, a drive to join the
European Union and NATO, and a resolute fight against
corruption.
He did not name possible partners, saying talks would
start after final election results came in.
Kostov has called the ex-king's socially oriented
programme "wild populism". His camp waged a fierce anti-Simeon
campaign but the king's movement has said it is nevertheless
prepared to form a coalition with the UDF.
Pale and clearly devastated, Kostov hinted he may resign
as UDF leader.
In the run-up to the vote, Kostov had dismissed the idea
of a broad coalition, saying it would put all parties in power
and leave the Bulgarian people in opposition. But his top
aides appeared to be split on Sunday.
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