SOFIA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev tendered his resignation to the country's Constitutional Court on Tuesday, the court said on its website.
The Constitutional Court has opened a case regarding the resignation, it said.
Radev announced on Monday that he would submit his resignation on Tuesday, paving the way for his participation in the country's upcoming snap parliamentary elections. Vice President Iliana Iotova shall assume the powers of the president for the remainder of the term of office.
Radev, born on June 18, 1963, had one year left in his second five-year term as president. He was first elected president in November 2016, won re-election in November 2021, and took office for his second consecutive term as President of Bulgaria on Jan. 22, 2022.
According to the constitution, the election of a new president shall be conducted not earlier than three months and not later than two months prior to the expiry of the term of credentials of the incumbent president.
Iotova, born on Oct. 24, 1964, has been Radev's vice president during his two terms in office. Before becoming vice president, she had vast political experience on positions such as member of the Supreme Council and the Executive Bureau of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, member of the Bulgarian Parliament, and member of the European Parliament. ■
