Sofia's Dragan Tzankov Street was named after one of Bulgaria's prime ministers, who ruled the country soon after its liberation.

Dragan Kiriakov Tzankov was born in the town of Svishtov in 1828. He first studied in his hometown, then continued his education in the Odessa seminary and Kiev's High School. In 1848 he worked as a teacher in Bucharest for two years before moving to Vienna for a life of commerce.

From 1864 to 1873 he was editor of the Bulgaria newspaper. After the crushing of the April rebellion in 1876 by the Turks, Tzankov made a tour of European capitals in search of support for the beleaguered Bulgarian population.

After Bulgaria's liberation he held several important state positions. He was prime minister and minister of foreign affairs from March to November 1880; minister of interior affairs from November to December 1880 and from September 1883 to June 1884 he was prime minister and minister of interior affairs. He was also minister of interior affairs from August 9 to 12, 1886.

Tzankov was a staunch supporter of Russia. In 1884 he led a movement in the Liberal Party which supported mutual rule with the conservative party. When his cabinet was ousted in 1884, he created a separate party, which was named after him.

After a failed coup against Alexander Batenberg, he emigrated and did not return to Bulgaria until 1894.

Tzankov was chairman of the Bulgarian Parliament from 1901 to 1903. He died in 1911.

After the Bulgarian liberation in 1878 the formation of a new political system began. At that time there were serious differences between the conservatives and the liberals.

The national leaders Petko Karavelov, Petko Slaveykov and Tzankov managed to create their own political party. In the summer of 1879 they started to publish their own newspaper Tzelokupna Bulgaria (Complete Bulgaria), and by the fall a central administration and some local structures had been created. The liberal party was supported by numerous owners of small and medium-sized businesses.

The conservative party comprised well-off city merchants, large land-owners, a significant part of the higher clergy and the Intelligentsia. It was obvious that it could not develop as a multi-member political organization. The official newspapers of the party were Vitosha and Bulgarian Voice.

At that time Prince Alexander I was sworn in as ruler of Bulgaria. He thought that the conservative party would support his efforts to limit the rights of Parliament and expand his personal power.

In the fall of 1879, Bulgaria held elections and the Liberal party was again elected to power. The formation of a coalition cabinet failed and there were further elections in January 1880. The liberal party won an overwhelming victory, and gained power successfully. The party formed its own cabinet with Tzankov as prime minister. The new cabinet tried to reduce the differences with Prince Alexander I by offering him respect and satisfying some of his financial claims. However, there were still crucial disagreements.

During one of the prince's absences, a draft law for a civil home guard, to be directly under the rule of Parliament, was prepared but was later vetoed by Prince Alexander I. Another bone of contention that arose between the cabinet and Prince Alexander I was the building of a railway between Sofia and the town of Svishtov, through the town of Turnovo. The prince insisted on constructing the route between Belovo, Sofia and Pirot in order to connect the country with Central and Western Europe. The conflict became irreconcilable at the European Danube conference when Bulgarian representatives acted against the prince's orders and Dragan resigned from his post as prime minister. The next government was also chosen from the Liberal party.

During the government's two terms a number of important laws were adopted. A law for administrative division made it possible for self-government in some areas and an elections law was passed, which gave almost unlimited opportunities for the citizens of the Kingdom of Bulgaria to vote and be voted for. Other important laws were those stipulating the conditions under which ministers can be sued and also a law for the improvement of agriculture.

In terms of foreign policy, the liberal party cabinets managed to extend financial subsidies to the Exarchate and to pursue the unification of the Bulgarian lands, always mindful of Russia's position.