Konstantin Stoilov is one of the most important Bulgarian politicians of the late 19th century. He was born on September 23, 1853, in Plovdiv into a wealthy merchant family. He graduated from the St. Cyril and St. Methodius School in his hometown and Robert College in Constantinople (Tsarigrad). During Konstantin Stoilov’s administration, the first Law for the Promotion of Local Industry and the Law for the Design and Construction of the Bulgarian Railway Network were adopted.
172 years since the birth of Dr. Konstantin Stoilov
Konstantin Stoilov is one of the most important Bulgarian politicians of the late 19th century. He was born on September 23, 1853, in Plovdiv into a wealthy merchant family. He graduated from the St. Cyril and St. Methodius School in his hometown and Robert College in Constantinople (Tsarigrad). During Konstantin Stoilov’s administration, the first Law for the Promotion of Local Industry and the Law for the Design and Construction of the Bulgarian Railway Network were adopted.
He participated in the Constituent Assembly as a member of the commission for drafting the constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria. He was a supporter of strong monarchical rule and executive power. He advocated for a bicameral parliament and the introduction of property and educational qualifications for elected representatives. Highly educated, Konstantin Stoilov was private secretary and head of the political cabinet of Prince Alexander I. Later, he won the favor of Prince Ferdinand I Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He was the founder of the People’s Party and the authoritative Bulgarian newspaper Mir (meaning Peace), which was published from 1894 to 1944. K. Stoilov was repeatedly elected minister. He was prime minister in 1887 and 1894-1899. As head of the cabinet that ruled the country at the end of the 19th century, he contributed to the normalization of diplomatic relations with Russia in 1896 and to the international recognition of Prince Ferdinand as the Bulgarian ruler. His achievements in the field of economic legislation are indisputable. He considered the economic development and prosperity of the Principality of Bulgaria to be the main task of the legislative and executive powers. During Konstantin Stoilov’s administration, the first Law for the Promotion of Local Industry and the Law for the Design and Construction of the Bulgarian Railway Network were adopted.
In 1927, Mihail Madjarov recounted: “If Stoilov’s cabinet was able to last nearly five years, the reason for this was not Stoilov’s courtliness, nor the prince’s favor towards him, but rather his brilliant successes in domestic and foreign policy, which consolidated the dynasty’s position. Stoilov’s administration was a series of successes that no one else at that time could have achieved. Stoilov seemed to have been created for that era. Firm in his principles but opportunistic in his methods, he was able to lead Bulgaria from an absolute regime to the full and very liberal application of the Bulgarian constitution; he was able to return Bulgarian foreign policy to its natural historical path without causing any upheaval to the country or the dynasty.”
Dr. Konstantin Stoilov died on March 23, 1901, in the prime of his life, a victim, like other Bulgarians, of the conditions in Bulgaria. He will remain in the national memory as one of the most prominent builders of modern Bulgaria.
Text: Dr. Valentina Zadgorska
Prime Minister (1894-1899)
