site.bta26 Years Ago Today, Constitutional Court Declares Unconstitutional 1947 Law on Nationalization of Royal Real Estates

On June 4, 1998 the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria declared unconstitutional a law 1947 on the nationalization of the properties of the families of Bulgaria's King Ferdinand I and King Boris III, and their heirs. The nationalization law was adopted by the Sixth Grand National Assembly on December 19, 1947. 

The case to repeal the 1947 law was opened on March 20, 1998 on a petition by then Prosecutor General Ivan Tatarchev according to Article 149, Para 1 Item 2 of the Constitution.

Following is the story in BTA's English-language newsletter Daily News that covered the Constitutional Court decision:

Constitutional Court Declares Unconstitutional 1947 Act on Nationalization of Royal Real Estates

Sofia, June 4 (BTA) - Meeting behind closed doors Thursday, the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional a 1947 act of Parliament by which the real property owned by the families of kings Ferdinand I and Boris III and their heirs were nationalized. The case was instituted in March this year on a petition filed by Prosecutor General Ivan Tatarchev who challenged the constitutionality of the royal property nationalization act under which the royal family was dispossessed of all palaces, residences and personal belongings.

Simeon II, the exiled Bulgarian monarch who lives in Madrid, keeps notary acts on six items of real property: two palaces, three hunting lodges, a farm house and a villa. According to Hristo Danov, a well-known lawyer and former minister of the interior, Bulgarian kings did not receive land as a gift but paid for it.  Once nationalized, the royal palaces became favourite retreats of the new communist leaders, Danov said.

Communist supremos Georgi Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Fidel Castro of Cuba have slept in the Vrana Palace near Sofia. Former communist leader Todor Zhivkov liked to rest at the Krichim Palace (near Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria).

Under a June 1993 Council of Ministers decree, the royal palaces can be used only to stage functions attended by the President, Vice President, National Assembly Chairman or Prime Minister.  Hunters are welcome to Krichim for pay, and Vrana is managed by the Sofia Municipality.

"Bulgaria is finally a state governed by the rule of law and each Bulgarian is entitled to his property.  The law is a law," said Princes Marie-Louise (King Simeon's sister, who is currently visiting Bulgaria), reacting before reporters to the news of the Constitutional Court judgement.  She declined to say what will happen to the royal real estate and advised the journalists to ask her brother who was in charge of the family.  

"Those who seized our property in the name of the people, did they give it to the people?" the Princess said, asked whether she will donate the restituted property.  She added that she would not deal with these matters because her visit had a different purpose.