In Bulgaria, for the first time in the country's history, the powers of the head of state have been transferred to a female politician. On Friday, January 23, 2026, the Constitutional Court officially confirmed the resignation of Rumen Radev, after which the presidential powers automatically transferred to Vice President Iliyana Yotova. This was reported by podrobno.uznewsreports.
According to the Constitution, Yotova will serve as the head of state until the end of the current term — January 2027. The court unanimously approved the early termination of Radev's powers based on his voluntary application.
Radev, who has been president since 2017 and was previously the commander of the Air Force, became the first president in the modern democratic era to resign voluntarily before the end of his term. He explained his decision as a desire to participate more actively in political processes and to prepare for the anticipated early parliamentary elections.
As 61-year-old Iliyana Yotova assumes presidential powers, there is no need for her to take the oath again: she took the oath when she began her second term as vice president in 2022. In his farewell address, Radev called Yotova a “worthy successor” and expressed confidence in her ability to ensure institutional stability during a political crisis.
Yotova has extensive experience in both political and international arenas. Before joining the presidential administration, she worked as a television journalist, headed the press center of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and later served as a deputy in the national parliament and the European Parliament.
During her European activities, she dealt with issues such as combating terrorism, protecting personal data, and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area. In her new role, Yotova is expected to represent the country internationally and consult with parliamentary factions to set the date for the eighth parliamentary elections in the last five years.
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