Iliana Yotova officially became the first female president of Bulgaria after Rumen Radev`s resignation.
The Constitutional Court of Bulgaria has officially accepted the resignation of President Rumen Radev, paving the way for Vice President Iliana Yotova to take over. The decision was unanimous and came into effect on 23 January 2026. This was reported by The Public with reference to Novinite.
Twelve constitutional judges participated in the hearing. The rapporteur in the case was the president of the court, Pavlina Panova. The court confirmed that Radev's resignation was submitted voluntarily and without any external pressure. Since there was no question of impeachment, no additional hearings or investigations were conducted.
Following the court's decision, all presidential powers were officially transferred to Yotova. She does not need to take the oath of office again in the National Assembly, as she already took the oath as vice-president in 2021. She also automatically became the supreme commander of the Bulgarian Armed Forces and will perform her duties without a deputy.
Later that day, at 4 p.m., Rumen Radev will leave the presidential building through the ceremonial entrance, accompanied by Iliana Yotova. This will mark the end of his nine-year tenure as head of state. Initiatives dedicated to his resignation have already appeared on social media. Radev is expected to announce his own political project in the near future ahead of early elections.
Rumen Radev, a major general in the Air Force and former commander of the Air Force, was first elected president in November 2016 and took office on 22 January 2017, with Iliana Yotova as vice president. In November 2021, they were re-elected for a second term. Radev became the first president in Bulgaria's democratic history to leave office early.
Iliana Yotova began her professional career as a journalist and later joined the Bulgarian Socialist Party, where she rose from party activist to member of the governing bodies. She has been a member of the national parliament, a member of the European Parliament, and for the past nine years has served as vice president. The transfer of power was a historic moment for the country and a landmark event for the representation of women at the highest level of government.
Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, Iliana Yotova
