Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court approves Radev’s resignation as country’s president
Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court unanimously approved on January 23 the resignation of Roumen Radev as the country’s president, according to an announcement on the court’s website.
The decision takes effect immediately, the court said.
Radev announced his resignation as head of state in a televised address on the evening of January 19, and submitted it to the Constitutional Court on January 20.
The step came a year ahead of the expiry of the second and final term in office of Radev, who became president in January 2017.
The former Air Force commander is entering parliamentary politics as Bulgaria heads towards early National Assembly elections, the eighth time since April 2021 that the country elects a legislature. Radev is yet to make clear the details of his political project.
Bulgaria’s constitution says that in the event of a president resigning, the Constitutional Court must establish ” whether it was submitted voluntarily, as a result of a freely formed will”.
The court found that in the case of Radev, this is what had happened.
It said that Article 97 (3) of the constitution now took effect, meaning that vice president Iliana Yotova assumes the duties of the president until the expiry of the term of office.
Earlier, the head of state’s office said that at 4pm on January 23, there would be a formal farewell for Radev, with Yotova escorting him to the ceremonial entrance of the presidency building.
Radev is the fifth democratically-elected President of Bulgaria and the first to resign before the expiry of his term.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
For exclusive subscriber-only access to The Sofia Globe’s analysis and commentary on events in Bulgaria, please sign up to our page on Patreon:
