Timeline of a Presidency

Nikolay Trifonov

Rumen Radev leaves the President's Administration, Sofia, January 23, 2026 (BTA Photo/Blagoy Kirilov)

Sofia,

23.01.2026 18:23

(BTA)

Rumen Radev has ceased to perform the duties of President after the Constitutional Court terminated his powers following his resignation, making him the first democratically elected head of state in Bulgaria to step down before the end of his term.

Radev served as president from January 22, 2017, to January 23, 2026, and was the fifth democratically elected President of Bulgaria. He began his first term in January 2017 and was sworn in for a second term on January 22, 2022.

On January 19, he announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation.

In recent years, Radev repeatedly declined to give a clear answer to questions about any plans to go into party politics.

Who is he

Radev was born on June 18, 1963, in the southern town of Dimitrovgrad. He graduated with top honors from a high school of mathematics and science in Haskovo in 1982 and from the Georgi Benkovski Air Force Academy in 1987, finishing first in his class.

Radev received advanced military training in the United States and Bulgaria, including the Maxwell Air Force College.

He has more than 1,400 flight hours as a fighter pilot, served as a MiG-29 demonstration pilot, and reached the rank of major general. From 2014 to 2016, he was commander of the Bulgarian Air Force.

Radev and Iliana Iotova were elected president and vice president in November 2016 with 59.37% of the vote and re-elected in November 2021 with 66.72%, though voter turnout in the second election was 34.84%.

Nine years in office

During his two terms as head of State, Radev appointed seven caretaker governments:

in January 27, 2017 with Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdzhikov;
May 12, 2021 with Prime Minister Stefan Yanev;
September 16, 2021 with Prime Minister Stefan Yanev;
August 2, 2022 with Prime Minister Galab Donev;
February 3, 2023 with Prime Minister Galab Donev;
April 9, 2024 with Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev; and
August 27, 2024 again with Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev.

Radev exercised his veto power 46 times. His first veto was on February 2, 2017, against the Concessions Act adopted by the 43rd National Assembly. His most recent veto was on November 12, 2025, when he returned for reconsideration amendments to the Act on Administrative Regulation of Economic Activities Related to Oil and Petroleum Products.

Over nine years, he delivered 26 addresses to the nation. He convened the Consultative Council for National Security.

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