Bulgaria Former Tsar Denies Gambling Addiction Allegations

Bulgaria's former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria's former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, 72, denies ever being a gambler saying he has visited casinos 3 times over his entire life.

In an interview for the Jewish daily “Maariv”, the former PM says he went to casinos over curiosity and all thee visits have been documented by video cameras.

In the interview, Simeon further voices his displeasure from accusations he returned to Bulgaria only to take possession of the properties of the former royal family.

“Is it possible to put those properties in a suitcase and take them to Madrid? What is better? Me spending money on their maintenance or letting them rot without owner and care?” Simeon says.

The former Tsar further states that anyone in Bulgaria having restitution rights had taken advantage of it and had regained their properties, adding the attacks against him were rooted in envy and venom.

“After I took over the State many thing were said about me and most were sheer non-sense such as insinuations I am a gambler, a Russian spy and a greedy person coming back to Bulgaria just for my properties,” Simeon tells “Maariv.”

The former PM wishes success to the new Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party cabinet and offers advise to current PM, Boyko Borisov, to follow his example and ensure continuity in the rule.

“The easiest thing is to criticize the past,” Simeon points out.

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