Bulgaria’s President Radev will run for a second term in office

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev has officially stated that he will run for a second term, when presidential elections are held in the autumn of 2021.

He announced his intention to run for a second term as President, along with Vice President Iliana Yotova on February 1 during a statement marking the fourth year since his inauguration.

"The most important immediate state goal is to strengthen power. In order to overcome the institutional crisis, Bulgaria needs a powerful political alternative, with determination to achieve this primary goal," said the President.

As president and vice president, we will continue to work to overcome poverty and lawlessness and to guarantee our worthy place in the European family, he added.

"Our candidacy at this time is an honest and respectful approach to Bulgarian citizens, to all political entities. We are about to sail in turbulent waters and it is critical to have institutions and political entities with clear priorities and clear positions. In the face of the presidential institution, the Bulgarian society will have an institution that will keep a stable course with clear guidelines, expressed in our message," said the President.

"I have not negotiated with political parties to support our candidacy, at least because the Socialists, who nominated us in 2016, have the right to be the first to pronounce," Rumen Radev added.

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According to the Bulgarian Constitution, the President is elected directly by voters for a period of five years, and is eligible for only one re-election to the same office.

The previous presidential elections in Bulgaria were held in November 2016, and the socialist backed Rumen Radev won 59.37% of the votes during a runoff against the centre-right GERB party candidate Tsetska Tsacheva.