STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Get a low APR NextCard Visa in 30 seconds! 1. Fill in the brief application 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds 3. Get rates as low as 2.99% Intro or 9.99% Ongoing APR and no annual fee! Apply NOW! http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/NextCard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: Downwithcapitalism <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2001 4:37 PM Subject: [downwithcapitalism] From socialism to capitalism...to feudalism? Telegraph. 10 June 2001. Former boy king poised for Bulgarian poll victory. Simeon II chose Bulgaria's medieval capital of Veliko Turnovo, a picturesque hillside town redolent of a more glorious age [?!?!?!!!], to launch his final week of campaigning yesterday as his party heads for victory in next Sunday's elections [thanks to removing all the 'ex-communists' who polls showed would have won]. The symbolism was powerful for the former boy king, dethroned by the Soviet army when he was nine, as he addressed the crowd in front of the ruined palace of a previous Bulgarian era. The Madrid-based businessman, now 63, is on course to become the first deposed monarch in the former communist bloc to reclaim power through the ballot box. He has dominated the parliamentary election campaign since forming the National Movement for Simeon II, which has a comfortable opinion poll lead over the ruling Union of Democratic Forces (UDF). However, while the position of prime minister would be his if he wanted it, Simeon is not running as an MP and has not declared what official role - if any - he will take in a new government. Instead, he is expected to exercise his authority through his appointees, in the style of a king and his court. His reticence has fuelled speculation that he hopes to use his party to restore the monarchy, despite the lack of public enthusiasm for such a move. Were he to accept public office, Simeon, who has never renounced his claim to the throne that was taken away by a rigged referendum in 1946, would have to swear allegiance to the republic. "He is going to avoid any opportunity to be faced with this challenge," says Svetoslav Malinov, a UDF strategist. "I think he is aware that he simply cannot swear on the constitution." The king has repeatedly avoided questions from journalists about whether he planned to restore the monarchy. However, in a recent Spanish newspaper interview, he extolled the virtues of a constitutional monarchy. The change to a parliamentary monarchy would require special elections to create a "Great National Assembly", which would then need to vote by a two thirds majority to amend the constitution - not easy, but possible in a few years if his party is a success. For now, Simeon promises a government comprised largely of Bulgarians who have worked abroad in the financial and legal worlds. He is brief on details, but says his party aims to eliminate corruption and political partisanship, and to implement a new economic policy which will "change the lives of Bulgarians within 800 days". His economic plan for greater liberalisation and tax cuts does not differ significantly from that of the ruling UDF. Few of the locals who cheered his walkabout through Veliko Turnovo's ancient streets yesterday backed a return of the monarchy. However, disillusioned with their own home-grown politicians after a decade of economic turmoil since the fall of communism [read: capitalist restoration], they were attracted to a new face with a Western background. Simeon recently told a Spanish newspaper that he has not ruled out standing for president in November. * * * * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
