site.btaConstitutional Court Rules that President Radev's Powers Are to Be Terminated Prior to Expiry of His Term of Office

The Constitutional Court has ruled that the powers of the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, are to be terminated prior to the expiry of his term of office after establishing the resignation.

The decision is final and takes effect on January 23, 2026. It was adopted unanimously by the twelve judges who participated in the sitting.

Radev announced that he was resigning the presidency in an address to the nation on January 19, stating that this was his "last address as President" of Bulgaria.

The resignation was tendered to the Constitutional Court on January 20. Later in the day, the Court instituted a case to consider the resignation. 

Under Article 97 of the Constitution, the president of the Republic may tender their resignation to the Constitutional Court prior to the expiry of their term of office. In such case, the vice president must assume the office of president for the remainder of the term of office. Within a period at its discretion, the Constitutional Court must decide whether the president has resigned of their own accord. If this is the case, the president's credentials will be terminated, and the vice president will step in. Bulgaria’s current vice president is Iliana Iotova.

Rumen Radev is the fifth democratically elected president of Bulgaria, according to the head of State's website. He was first elected in November 2016 and re-elected in November 2021. Prior to his presidency, from 2014 to 2016, he served as commander of the Bulgarian Air Force.

To date, no Bulgarian president has ever resigned from office.