Dimitar Petkov
Bulgarian politician (1858–1907)
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Dimitar Nikolov Petkov (Bulgarian: Димитър Петков) (2 November 1858, Tulcea – 11 March 1907, Sofia) was a leading member of the Bulgarian People's Liberal Party and the country's Prime Minister from 5 November 1906 until he was assassinated in Sofia the following year.
Dimitar Petkov Димитър Петков | |
|---|---|
| 14th Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 6 December 1906 – 11 March 1907 | |
| Monarch | Ferdinand |
| Preceded by | Racho Petrov |
| Succeeded by | Dimitar Stanchov (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 November 1858 |
| Died | 11 March 1907 (aged 48) Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Party | People's Liberal Party |
A veteran of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 he fought for the Russian Imperial Army at the Battle of Shipka Pass where he lost an arm during the combat.[1]
Petkov spent five years (1888–1893) as mayor of Sofia and during his time in charge he undertook an extensive redevelopment of the city.[2]
Following the death of Stefan Stambolov in 1895 he took over as leader of People's Liberal Party, a role he held until his own death when Nikola Genadiev succeeded him.[3] Petkov's party took office in 1903 following the resignation of Stoyan Danev but Ferdinand I of Bulgaria chose a non-party Prime Minister, his close friend Racho Petrov, instead of Petkov.[4]
Petkov was finally appointed Prime Minister in November 1906, but held the post for only a few months; on 11 March 1907, he was assassinated by gunshot in Sofia's Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard by Aleksandar Petrov, a disgruntled former employee of the Bulgarian Agricultural Bank. Petrov was put on trial, handed a death sentence and executed by hanging in July 1907.[5]
His son Nikola Petkov was also a politician in post-war Bulgaria before being put to death in 1947.[6]