The republic of Bulgaria may soon have the most powerful king in Europe, although he will not be wearing a crown. A two-month-old political movement founded by the balding 64-year-old Simeon Borissov Saxcoburgotski - otherwise known as Tsar Simeon II - is the favourite to win today's general election. The former monarch, aged nine, fled with his mother and sister into exile in Egypt in 1946 after a ruthless communist regime seized power, killing his uncle, the regent, and then rigged a referendum to abolish the monarchy. After spending half a century as a businessman in Madrid, he has returned as head of a newly formed national movement called Simeon II. The party is leading the polls and is comfortably ahead of its nearest rival, the United Democratic Forces. The former king's progress is likely to be watched closely by disgruntled former monarchs the world over. Simeon, who is not running for a seat in parliament, has declined to say what role he might play after the elections. He simply says: "When the time comes I will tell you." Critics fear he may be trying to regain the throne, although polls suggest that only 14% of Bulgarians would support such a move. "He is moving step by step to restore the monarchy," said Ognian Minchev of the Institute for Regional and International Development. "He will try to change the power structure of the country through the back door. This is extremely dangerous for Bulgarian democracy." Simeon last week denied seeking the crown: "My ambition is only for this country to live well and democratically."

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