On this Day – April 21st

King Boris bans political parties

Boris III became Tsar of Bulgaria in 1918. His position was threatened by coup and counter-coup.

In the coup on 19 May 1934, the Zveno military organisation established a dictatorship and abolished political parties in Bulgaria. Tsar Boris was reduced to the status of a puppet tsar as a result of this coup

The following year, he staged a counter-coup and assumed control of the country. The political process was controlled by the Tsar, but a form of parliamentary rule was re-introduced on April 21st 1935, without the restoration of the political parties.

With the rise of the "King's government" in 1935, Bulgaria entered an era of prosperity and astounding growth, which deservedly qualifies it as the Golden Age of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. It lasted nearly five years.

Ed – A King called Boris, and a five-year period of prosperity after political parties were banned – are there lessons to be learned once again from history?

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