Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Bulgaria votes: monarchy comes to an end

September 9, 1946


Bulgarians today went to the polls and voted in a referendum to retain the monarchy or the establishment of a people's republic, the New York Times reports.

The result in "favor of a republic is considered a foregone conclusion. The Bulgarian government and all the oppositition parties "support a republic," but the decision will be made by an "ordinary majority." The first results show that less than 5 percent voted in favor of the monarchy."
The Communist leader, Georgi Dimitrov, stated in a broadcast last night that "Bulgaria would be a people's republic, not a Soviet kind of republic." He declared that leading roles would be "played by workmen, peasants and intellectuals."
The Associated Press is reporting that the result of the election will mean the end of the monarchy, young King Simeon II and his mother, Queen Giovanna, were making plans to go into exile.

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