Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev announced Monday that he will resign from office, sparking widespread speculation that he intends to form his own political party to contest upcoming parliamentary elections.

Radev, who was elected in 2016 and reelected in 2021, was scheduled to hold the largely ceremonial presidency until January 2027. He stated that he plans to submit his resignation to the Constitutional Court on Tuesday. If the court approves, Vice-President Iliana Iotova will assume the presidency until elections scheduled for November.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said he’ll resign from his post on Tuesday, as the European Union member state faces another general election https://t.co/DqzWo7WS8B

— Bloomberg (@business) January 19, 2026

Speaking publicly, Radev did not explicitly confirm the formation of a new party but has long signaled interest in broader political ambitions beyond the presidency. His resignation comes as Bulgaria navigates a political crisis, heading toward its eighth parliamentary election in four years. Analysts point to a fragmented parliament and the repeated failure of coalition governments to secure lasting majorities as factors intensifying Radev’s political influence.

@reuters Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov handed in his government's resignation following weeks of street protests over its economic policies and perceived failure to tackle corruption. #bulgaria #protest #demonstration #corruption #politics ♬ original sound – Reuters

“The last coalition lasted nearly a year until protests against a new budget and widespread corruption forced it to resign in December,” Reuters reported, noting that elections are expected in the coming months.

Radev, a former air-force commander, has repeatedly appointed interim governments during his tenure, raising his national profile and positioning himself as a potential political force outside traditional party structures. Observers note that his Kremlin-friendly stance on the war in Ukraine and his skepticism about Bulgaria’s recent adoption of the euro distinguish him from other mainstream political figures.

The move is widely seen in Bulgaria as a strategic step, allowing Radev to leverage his presidential visibility ahead of parliamentary elections and potentially reshape the country’s political landscape.