The Role of Dragan Tsankov in Forming the Coalition Between the “Moderate” Liberals and the Conservatives in Bulgaria (1883–1885)

Authors:

Pages: 393-403
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/PMXN6847

Abstract:

The article is devoted to determining the role of Dragan Tsankov in the collaboration of “moderate” liberals with the Conservative Party of Bulgaria in 1883–1885. On the basis of archival materials, party programme documents, the press of that period, the work of modern Bulgarian and Ukrainian researchers, the main goals of uniting the “Tsankovists” and the Conservatives, developing a strategy for their joint actions, the main contradictions and the reasons for the problems of the coalition have been studied. Thanks to the alliance with the Conservatives, D. Tsankov succeeded on the issue of renewing the Tarnovo Constitution. Also, the leader of the “moderate” liberals settled the problem with the status of the Russian military in Bulgaria. He personally prepared political projects of the alliances, in which he focused not only on financial and economic problems, but also on the issues of supporting the Exarch and of the need to establish diplomatic relations with the Russian Empire. The author concludes that alliances were created, first of all, with the goal of gaining power. D. Tsankov sought to increase the level of popularity and authority of his political group. However, disagreements on principal issues regarding changes in the Tarnovo Constitution and in relation to the prince and the Russian Empire led to the collapse of the alliance and the transformation of the group of “moderate” liberals into an independent political force.

Keywords:

Bulgaria; coalition; “Tsankovists”; Conservatives; D. Tsankov

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