Shesto Government

Sixth "Shesto" Government
6th Cabinet of Bulgaria
Date formed	1 July 1981
Date dissolved	23 June 1982
People and organisations
Knyaz	Alexander of Battenberg
Head of government	Alexander of Battenberg
History
Predecessor	Ehrnrooth Government
Successor	Sobolev Government

The Sixth "Shesto" government of Bulgaria was the government of the Principality of Bulgaria, appointed by Knyaz Alexander I of Battenberg with Decree No. 565 on July 1, 1881, and was under his direct leadership. ^[1] Ruled until June 23, 1882 under the so-called "Regime of Full Powers," then succeeded by the government of Leonid Sobolev. This is the only Bulgarian government without a prime minister. ^[2]

Policies

Immediately after the Second Grand National Assembly completed its work, a new cabinet without a prime minister was formed, in which the conservatives and Russian generals played a leading role. ^[3] The knyaz skillfully used the military generals and their Russian influence to solidify his position after the coup.During its one-year administration, the government conducted a number of constructive reforms: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion was restructured according to a more modern European model; a State Council was formed; the gendarmerie came under the authority of the Ministry of War. A committee has been organized to resolve the rural landlord issue; rules for the construction of private buildings have been approved, and a Commission for the Implementation, Completion, and Ordering of the Judicial Process has been appointed. The first curricula and statutes of the Pedagogical School have been developed.

The government conducted a very repressive policy against its political opponents. The leaders of the Liberal Party Dragan Tsankov and Petko Slaveykov were imprisoned. The Press Law was amended in a way to make journalists require a permit from the Ministry of Interior in order to publish in a newspaper. Protest meetings and rallies were in one way or another prohibited by law.

Addressing issues related to rail transport was a major priority for the cabinet's foreign policy. Conservatives supported the project of a French company for the construction of the Bulgarian railway network as they found it the most beneficial for national interests. On the other side Russian generals and diplomatic representatives in the country were supportive of the offer of a Russian company. Disagreements in the cabinet over the railway issue were starting to strain on the Bulgarian-Russian relations. The knyaz was trying to stabilize the domestic political situation in the country by forming a new coalition cabinet with the participation of Dragan Tsankov's moderate liberals and conservatives, but his attempts ended in failure.

The disagreements between the two factions regarding the Regime of the Mandates proved insurmountable. To resolve the crisis, the knyaz once again used the authority of Russia, and on 15 April 1892, during his visit to St. Petersburg, he managed to persuade Emperor Alexander III to recall diplomat Hitrovo and send Russian General Leonid Sobolev to Bulgaria to head a new cabinet.

Cabinet

Portfolio	Minister	Took office	Left office	Party
Minister of the Interior	Arnold Remlingen	1 July 1881	31 December 1881		Imperial Russian Army
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religion	Konstantin Stoilov	1 July 1881	30 July 1881		Conservative party
Minister of National Education	Konstantin Jireček	1 July 1881	23 June 1882		Conservative party
Minister of Finance	Georgi Zhelyazkovich	1 July 1881	23 June 1882		Conservative party
Minister of Justice	Georgi Teoharov	1 July 1881	23 June 1882		Independent
Minister of War	Vladimir Krylov	1 July 1881	15 April 1882		Imperial Russian Army

Changes in Cabinet

Portfolio	Minister	Took office	Left office	Party
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religion	Georgi Valkovich	30 July 1881	23 June 1882		Conservative party
Minister of the Interior	Grigor Nachovich	31 December 1881	23 June 1882		Conservative party
Minister of War	Ivan Lesovoy	15 April 1882	21 June 1882		Imperial Russian Army
Minister of War	Alexander von Kaulbars	21 June 1882	23 June 1882		Imperial Russian Army

Notable Events

• 1 July 1881 – By decision of the Second Grand National Assembly, a "Regime of Full Powers" was established for Knyaz Alexander I. The same day, Prime Minister Kasimir Ehrnrooth resigned and the knyaz appointed a new composition of the council of ministers without the sanction of the members of Parliament.
• September 1881 – The institution of extraordinary commissioners, introduced after the April coup d'état of the same year, was abolished in an attempt to calm public life. ^[4]
• 31 December 1881 - Conservative Grigor Nachovich heads the Ministry of the Interior after Russian Colonel Arnold Remlingen is removed from office due to the temporary ban on the conservative newspaper "Bulgarian Voice." ^[5]
• 1 January 1882 - The State Council, which developed and approved legislation during the Regime of Capacities, began its work.
• 6 February 1882 – As a measure against the growing agitation for the restoration of the Tarnovo Constitution, the authorities imprisoned the leader of the liberals Dragan Tsankov in Vratsa.

References

1. State Gazette, Decree No. 565, July 1, 1881. Published in State Gazette, issue 47, July 10, 1881.
2. Angelova, Y. et al. Bulgarian State Institutions 1879–1986. Encyclopedic Directory. Archived from the original on 2015-01-18 at the Wayback Machine. Sofia 2008
3. Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, pp. 25-28.
4. Dimitrov, Ilcho. The Prince, the Constitution, and the People. "From the History of Political Struggles in Bulgaria in the First Years after Liberation." Sofia, OPH Publishing House, 1972. pp. 56-59, 81, 86-90, 95-96
5. Dimitrov, Ilcho. The Prince, the Constitution, and the People. "From the History of Political Struggles in Bulgaria in the First Years after Liberation." Sofia, OPH Publishing House, 1972. pp. 56-59, 81, 86-90, 95-96