Bulgaria rules against ex-king

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling barring former King Simeon II from contesting the June 17 general election.

King Simeon II, 64, the first former monarch in post-communist eastern Europe to enter politics in his homeland, was fighting a Sofia City Court ruling that refused to register his movement because papers were not in order.

He originally announced his intention to seek a public role last February, despite being banned by the Constitutional Court from running for president.

Simeon's supporters gathered in the courtroom with his portrait in their hands and chanted, "We want Simeon!"

Simeon's spokeswoman Tsvetelina Uzunova told Reuters news agency: "Simeon II assured the Bulgarian people that those, who support him will be able to vote for him. The movement has been involved in consultations exploring possibilities for partnerships with other parties."

The former king was banished from Bulgaria as a child after a referendum abolished the monarchy in 1946.

His movement gained strong popular support, becoming a third force in the tight race for power along with the ruling reformist party and their Socialist opposition.

In an address earlier this month, Simeon pledged to fight corruption and improve people's lives in 800 days.

He also called for changes to Bulgaria's political system, fuelling speculation he might seek to re-instate the monarchy. Bulgaria's status as a republic is guaranteed by the constitution.

Economic protests

Despite the court ruling, Simeon could still run in the election by forming a coalition with another party.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, who leads the centre-right Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), offered Simeon to include his parliamentary nominees on the ticket of the ruling Union of Democratic Forces.

Kostov's is the first government to serve a full four-year term since one-party rule in the Balkan state ended in 1989.

The UDF ousted the Socialists from power in 1997 by mass protests over a grave economic crisis. Public support for the UDF has eroded because of corruption scandals, unemployment and declining living standards.

Currently residing in Madrid, Simeon received a rapturous welcome on his first return to Bulgaria in 1996. Since then he has frequently visited his homeland, where most of the royal property was restored to him.

The king said it was the economic suffering and growing anger of many Bulgarians that prompted his decision to enter Bulgarian politics.

"By European standards, most of our people live in misery, while some politicians bathe in inexplicable luxury," said King Simeon.

He pledged his movement would attract foreign investment and improve living standards.

His other priority would be fighting corruption, which "has become Bulgaria's major enemy by condemning its people to poverty and turning away vital foreign capital," he said.

Simeon is expected to announce his further plans later on Saturday or on Sunday, Uzunova said.

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Embassy of Bulgaria in the U.S., Washington D.C.

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