Rumen Radev (L) and Iliana Iotova walk out of the presidential building in Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan. 23, 2026. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Bulgaria on Friday approved the resignation of President Rumen Radev, which he submitted on Tuesday, the court said on its website.
According to the Bulgarian Constitution, Vice President Iliana Iotova will assume the presidency for the remainder of the term, which expires in January 2027. (The press office of the Bulgarian President/Handout via Xinhua)
SOFIA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Bulgaria on Friday approved the resignation of President Rumen Radev, which he submitted on Tuesday, the court said on its website.
According to the Bulgarian Constitution, Vice President Iliana Iotova will assume the presidency for the remainder of the term, which expires in January 2027.
The court said its decision takes effect on Friday.
The press office of the Bulgarian president said that Radev will leave the presidential building in a special ceremony later on Friday.
Radev, born in June 1963, was first elected president in November 2016, and won re-election in November 2021. Radev said he resigned to be eligible to run in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections.
According to the country's Constitution, the president and vice president may not be members of parliament, engage in other state, public or economic activities, or take part in the leadership of any political party.
Iotova, born in 1964, has served as Radev's vice president during his two terms in office. ■
Iliana Iotova returns to the presidential building in Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan. 23, 2026. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Bulgaria on Friday approved the resignation of President Rumen Radev, which he submitted on Tuesday, the court said on its website.
According to the Bulgarian Constitution, Vice President Iliana Iotova will assume the presidency for the remainder of the term, which expires in January 2027. (The press office of the Bulgarian President/Handout via Xinhua)
Rumen Radev leaves the presidential building in Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan. 23, 2026. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Bulgaria on Friday approved the resignation of President Rumen Radev, which he submitted on Tuesday, the court said on its website.
According to the Bulgarian Constitution, Vice President Iliana Iotova will assume the presidency for the remainder of the term, which expires in January 2027. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
Rumen Radev (L) communicates with Iliana Iotova outside the presidential building in Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan. 23, 2026. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Bulgaria on Friday approved the resignation of President Rumen Radev, which he submitted on Tuesday, the court said on its website.
According to the Bulgarian Constitution, Vice President Iliana Iotova will assume the presidency for the remainder of the term, which expires in January 2027. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)