Aleksandar Malinov Explained

Aleksandar Malinov
Order:17th Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Term Start1:29 January 1908
Term End1:29 March 1911
Monarch1:Ferdinand
Predecessor1:Petar Gudev
Successor1:Ivan Geshov
Term Start2:21 June 1918
Term End2:28 November 1918
Monarch2:Ferdinand (21 June 1918 - 3 October 1918)
Boris III (3 October 1918 - 28 November 1918)
Predecessor2:Vasil Radoslavov
Successor2:Teodor Teodorov
Term Start3:29 June 1931
Term End3:12 October 1931
Monarch3:Boris III
Predecessor3:Andrey Lyapchev
Successor3:Nikola Mushanov
Birth Date:3 May 1867
Birth Place:Pandakli, Russian Empire
(present-day Ukraine)
Death Place:Sofia, Bulgaria
Party:Democratic Party
Profession:Prosecutor, Judge
Native Name Lang:bg

Aleksandar Pavlov Malinov (Bulgarian: Александър Павлов Малинов; 3 May 1867  - 20 March 1938) was a leading Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister on three occasions. He was born in Pandakli, Bessarabia (present-day Orihivka, Ukraine) in a family of Bessarabian Bulgarians.

Malinov was known for his support for close ties to Russia and he pursued this policy during his first ministry of 1908-1911. Malinov, who veered towards liberalism, presided over a relatively unremarkable tenure during which his main concern was stabilising the newly independent country. He was vehemently opposed to the increasing economic links with Germany which followed his period of office. He urged Vasil Radoslavov to follow a policy of neutrality after the outbreak of the First World War, fearing that Germany would simply exploit Bulgarian resources for her own war effort.

He was recalled as Prime Minister in 1918 specifically to attempt to negotiate an Armistice with the Allies as he had a reputation for moderation and consensus building. After these attempts failed Malinov vowed to fight on, although when a new investment of German money did not materialise he was forced to look for peace. Although Malinov had been appointed as he was seen by both the Tsar and Germany as a trustworthy hand, his position was severely weakened by the fact that the army had lost all interest in the war.[1] He oversaw Bulgarian surrender but resigned on 28 November 1918 after Romania occupied the Dobruja region.

Malinov briefly returned at the head of a further Democratic Party government in 1931, although his administration proved short-lived. This government sought to improve Bulgaria's relations with her neighbours and to this end oversaw the arrest of a number of prominent Macedonians, although ultimately Malinov's failing health meant that it was a short-lived administration.[2]

One of the main boulevards in Sofia's Mladost district bears the name of Aleksandar Malinov, as does the adjacent Aleksandar Malinov Metro Station on Sofia Metro's Line 1.

He was married to the suffragist and women's rights activist Julia Malinova.

Notes and References

  1. S.G. Evans, A Short History of Bulgaria, London, Lawrence and Wishart, 1960, p. 158
  2. S.G. Evans, A Short History of Bulgaria, London, Lawrence and Wishart, 1960, p. 171