Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court accepts President Radev’s resignation

Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court has accepted the resignation of President Rumen Radev, effective January 23.

The court ruled unanimously that Radev’s powers as head of state ended early, from the moment he submitted his resignation, Caliber.Az reports via Bulgarian media.

The court’s role was solely to confirm that the resignation was his personal decision and not made under pressure.

As this was not an impeachment process, there was no requirement for the president to appear at a hearing or for an investigation to be conducted.

Following the court’s ruling, Radev will leave office at 4:00 PM on January 23. Vice President Iliana Yotova will automatically assume the role of head of state.

The Constitutional Court also ruled that she does not need to retake the oath before the National Assembly, as she previously did so in 2021.

Rumen Radev is a Bulgarian politician and retired air force general who served as president since 2017, gaining prominence through repeated appointments of interim governments amid political instability. 

His presidency occurred during years of recurring political crisis in Bulgaria, marked by frequent elections and public discontent over corruption, and his resignation comes as speculation grows that he may form a new political party and run in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Radev’s resignation follows mass anti‑corruption protests and the government’s resignation in late 2025, reflecting public frustration with governance and corruption.

By Jeyhun Aghazada