For the first time in Bulgaria, the presidency was entrusted to a woman

For the first time in Bulgaria, presidential powers have been transferred to a female leader. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

On January 23, 2026, the Constitutional Court officially approved Rumen Radev's resignation. Following this, the presidential powers automatically passed to Vice President Iliyana Yotova.

This was reported by the media. According to the Bulgarian constitution, Yotova will perform the duties of the head of state until the current presidential term ends in January 2027.

The court confirmed that Radev's resignation was accepted early based on his own application. Rumen Radev had been serving as president since 2017.

He became the first president in Bulgaria's modern history to resign voluntarily before the end of his term. Radev explained this decision by his desire to increase activity in political processes and to prepare for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

61-year-old Iliyana Yotova does not need to take a new oath to assume the presidential powers. She had sworn in when she began her second term as vice president in 2022.

In his farewell speech, Radev expressed confidence in Yotova and described her as a leader capable of ensuring the stability of state institutions during a political crisis. Iliyana Yotova has extensive experience in politics and international relations.

Before assuming the presidency, she worked in journalism, headed the press service of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and served as a deputy in both the national parliament and the European Parliament. During her activities in Europe, she paid special attention to combating terrorism, protecting personal data, and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area.

Now, Yotova is entrusted with the responsibility of defending the country's interests on the international stage, as well as setting the date for parliamentary elections. According to observers, her experience working with European institutions may play an important role in stabilizing the political situation within the country.