[2] The monarchy had effectively ended soon after the coup of 9 September 1944, which saw the Fatherland Front seize power.

At that time, the regency council for the head of state, Tsar Simeon II, was replaced by a new council made up entirely of members of the Bulgarian Communist Party, the dominant force of the Fatherland Front.

On paper, the referendum was unconstitutional according to the Tarnovo Constitution still in force at the time.

The only constitutional way to do so was by convening a Grand National Assembly, which could only take place at the tsar's initiative.

[3] The country was declared a people's republic on 15 September 1946, formally putting an end to 68 years of monarchy.