Prince Alexander first forms a Conservative ministry,…

Prince Alexander first forms a Conservative ministry, but he is forced by popular agitation to form a Liberal government under Tsankov, who is appointed as Prime Minister on April 7, 1880, with plans for a wide-ranging raft of reforms, including the establishment of a militia, limited rights for Muslims, and attempts to limit the power of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

These alarm the prince, who fears the possibility of a liberal revolution.

A series of foreign policy errors involving relations with Austria-Hungary follow (largely caused by the lack of communication between Tsankov and the Tsar).

Tsankov's government undertakes the construction of judicial and state apparatuses and ends the depredations of brigands who had remained active in the mountains after the war.

But when the Liberals show, in the eyes of the prince, insufficient respect for the institution of monarchy and engage in a campaign to diminish Russian influence, Alexander, with Russian backing, dismisses them in favor of a Conservative government led by General Casimir Erenroth, a Finn in Russian service, who had earlier been charged with setting up the Bulgarian army.