“Paneuropa ist ganz Europa” was the dictum of Otto von Habsburg in the decades of the Cold War; for our namesake, it was not an empty political slogan, but a clear and unwavering vision for the reunification of a continent divided by the Iron Curtain. However, his efforts were not limited to the former successor states of the Monarchy: he was a staunch supporter of Bulgaria’s accession, along with the other former socialist countries, and even in the years before the regime change he participated in the work of the European Parliament’s ad hoc committee dedicated to the Balkans. Against this background, we were delighted to receive a personal visit from the Bulgarian Ambassador to Hungary, Christo Polendakov, in the last week of February.
During the discussion with the diplomat, the development of Bulgarian–Hungarian historical and cultural relations, the role of Bulgarian nationality in Hungary and the relationship between Otto von Habsburg and the last Bulgarian Tsar Simeon II were covered. A unique feature of their relation is that, in addition to the shared experience of decades of exile, the life of the Tsar of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gothai and the last Crown Prince of Hungary revealed an other noteworthy parallel: both heirs of monarchical tradition, strove to find their place in the political turmoil of the second half of the 20th century and emerged as decisive actors in democratic politics. As Prime Minister of Bulgaria (2001–2005), Simeon II played a key role in preparing his country for Euro-Atlantic integration, while as an MEP, Otto von Habsburg was a committed supporter of the former socialist bloc countries’ accession to the EU.
In conclusion of his visit, the Ambassador examined with keen interest the correspondence between Otto von Habsburg and Simeon II, and gave a thorough inspection of the photographs in the Foundation’s collection from the First World War years, which depict Charles I (IV), Boris III, as well as Bulgarian and Austro-Hungarian military leaders. He also carefully studied one of the most valuable items in our faleristics collection, the Great Cross of the Order of St. Alexander of the Kingdom of Bulgaria.
