Vasil Radoslavov

Vasil Radoslavov ( _bg. Васил Радославов) (27 July 1854 - 21 October 1929) was a leading Bulgarian liberal politician who twice served as Prime Minister. He was Premier of the country throughout most of World War I.

Born in Lovech, Radoslavov studied law at Heidelberg and became a supporter of Germany from then on. He became a political figure in 1884 when he was appointed Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Petko Karavelov, also holding the position under Archbishop Kliment Turnovski. He succeeded Karavelov as Prime Minister in 1886, a brief reign that was marked by corruption and ultimately a split in the Liberal Party, with a Radoslav Liberal Party fromed in 1887 as a grouping for right-wing liberals.

He returned to government in 1899 as Minister for Internal Affairs in the government of Todor Ivanchov, although after this he remained out of office until 1913 when he returned as Prime Minister. His anti-Russian rhetoric impressed Ferdinand who worked closely with Radoslavov in shaping foreign policy. He secured a large loan from Germany and Austria-Hungary in July 1914 but also managed to delay Bulgarian entry into the War. His popularity fell after Bulgaria officially entered the War, however, with money and resources now directed fully to the war effort. His government remained in office until June 1918, when the more moderate Aleksandar Malinov was recalled in the hope of brokering a favourable peace deal, with Radoslavov blamed for the failure of Bulgaria to gain full control of Northern Dobruja in the Treaty of Bucharest (the region being placed under joint Bulgarian, German and Austrian administration).

Radoslavov fled Bulgaria after the War, going into exile in Germany. In 1922 the regime of Aleksandar Stamboliyski sentenced him to death "in absentia" for his part in the defeat. He was pardoned in 1929, the same year in which he died whilst still in exile.

ee also

* Liberalism and radicalism in Bulgaria