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Aleksandar Tsankov Александър Цанков | |
|---|---|
 Tsankov in 1944 | |
| 21stPrime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 9 June 1923 – 4 January 1926 | |
| Monarch | Boris III |
| Preceded by | Aleksandar Stamboliyski |
| Succeeded by | Andrey Lyapchev |
| Prime Minister of theBulgarian government-in-exile | |
| In office 16 September 1944 – 10 May 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1879-06-29)June 29, 1879 Oryahovo, Bulgaria |
| Died | July 27, 1959(1959-07-27) (aged 80) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance (1923-1932) National Social Movement (1932 afterwards) |
Aleksandar Tsolov Tsankov (Bulgarian:Александър Цолов Цанков; June 29, 1879 – July 27, 1959) was a leadingBulgarian[1] politician during theinterwar period between thetwo world wars.
A professor of political economy atSofia University from 1910 onwards,[2] he took a leading role indeposingAleksandar Stamboliyski in 1923. He was chosen to head the coalition that succeeded the deposed premier.[2] The coup succeeded as theBulgarian Communist Party took a neutral attitude towards theAgrarians rather than supporting Stamboliyski.[3] He became Prime Minister of Bulgaria on 9 June that same year.[citation needed] He continued in this role until 4 January 1926. During that period, he was the leader of theDemocratic Alliance. His premiership was marked by deep internal struggles with the Bulgarian Communist Party, which Tsankov repressed mercilessly, declaringmartial law and outlawing the Communists in 1925 following an attempt onTsar Boris's life and abomb attack on the St Nedelya Cathedral.[2] His actions led toComintern denouncing the government as a "victorious Bulgarian fascist clique", whilst he later turned his attentions on the Agrarian Peoples Union[clarification needed], who were also suppressed, albeit less ferociously[4]
Abrief invasion byGreek troops followed, and although they did not stay long following condemnation by theLeague of Nations, the country was left crippled by debt. Tsankov was removed from office after failing to secure a loan for the country.[2] Any support for Tsankov had dwindled as the people tired of his reign of terror.[5]
After being removed from the political mainstream, Tsankov began to develop an admiration forFascism and soon became a supporter ofAdolf Hitler.[2] In 1932, he set up his ownNational Social Movement mainly in imitation of theNazi Party.[6] The movement proved relatively unimportant (although it did represent a further fragmentation of the governing coalition), lacking the support ofZveno and failing to secure Nazi approval, which was primarily reserved for theUnion of Bulgarian National Legions.[2] Nonetheless, Tsankov was appointed by the Nazis in 1944 as prime minister of theBulgarian government-in-exile set up inGermany in response toKimon Georgiev'sFatherland Front government.[7] This was even though Tsankov had been a signatory, one of only two from the right-wing opposition, toDimitar Peshev's letter calling for an end to the deportation of Jews.[8] After theSecond World War Tsankov fled toArgentina and died inBelgrano, Buenos Aires in 1959.[2]
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Bulgaria 1923–1926 | Succeeded by |
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