Petar Mladenov
Served: 1990
First president, chosen by parliament in April 1990; he resigned in July 1990.
List of Presidents of Bulgaria: Past and Present
Last updated
This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Bulgaria from 1990 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Bulgaria, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.
Current president of Bulgaria: Iliana Iotova (in office since 2026).
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Presidents of Bulgaria in order, with years in office
Zhelyu Zhelev
Served: 1990–1997
Dissident philosopher and first directly elected president, in 1992.
Petar Stoyanov
Served: 1997–2002
Served one term.
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Georgi Parvanov
Served: 2002–2012
Served two terms.
Rosen Plevneliev
Served: 2012–2017
Former construction businessman and regional development minister.
Rumen Radev
Served: 2017–2026
Former air force commander who resigned in January 2026, the first Bulgarian president to do so, to enter party politics.
Iliana Iotova
Served: 2026–present
Vice president who became Bulgaria's first woman president on 23 January 2026 and won the November 2026 runoff with 58% of the vote; her elected term begins in January 2027.
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Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Bulgaria
Who is the current president of Bulgaria?
The current president of Bulgaria is Iliana Iotova, in office since 2026.
Who were the previous presidents of Bulgaria?
The presidents and heads of state of Bulgaria listed on this page, in order, are: Petar Mladenov, Zhelyu Zhelev, Petar Stoyanov, Georgi Parvanov, Rosen Plevneliev, Rumen Radev, Iliana Iotova.
Who was the first president of Bulgaria?
Petar Mladenov was the first president of Bulgaria, in office 1990.
Sources: Wikipedia, President of Bulgaria; Bulgarian National Radio, BTA, Reuters and AP reports on Radev's January 2026 resignation and Iotova's November 2026 election (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since the office was created in 1990.. Last reviewed November 2026.
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