26076 | 19 Jan. 2026 | 20:48

Bulgaria is ready for a female president - Bulgarian women are resilient and well-prepared, she predicted recently

For the first time in the history of Bulgaria, a woman has climbed to the highest peak of the state hierarchy.

 After President Rumen Radev announced today that he is resigning from his post and entering party politics, it is clear - Bulgaria will have a female president for the first time.

 This will be Iliana Yotova, who has been vice president alongside Radev for nine years. Iliana Yotova has traversed a unique political path, unlike any other in the development of our country, without stumbling even once - from the screen of BNT, through the corridors of "Positano" 20, to the seat of the head of state. One can only dream of the destiny that opened all the possibilities for her, and Iliana has realized them in the most brilliant way, earning the respect and esteem of both supporters and opponents. This is due to her upbringing, education, battles fought on the political field, and her personal qualities: the ability to balance, listen, communicate, seek consensus without making unprincipled compromises, defend her positions, and respect other opinions.

 In front of everyone, Iliyana Yotova rose from a journalist, to a politician, to a top official.

 Nine years ago, when she took her oath together with Radev, Yotova promised to be a "good and direct advisor to the head of state". And she fulfilled that promise. But at the same time, she was a vice-president who shone with her own light, without getting involved in scandals or intrigues.

 Surely her long political career, which began as the head of the press center of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in 1997, contributed to this. And she went through the turbulent history of democratic Bulgaria. From the "girl with the red hair" of "Positano" 20, who did not betray her ideological principles during the most difficult years of the century, to today's Iliyana Yotova, the future Supreme Commander of the Bulgarian Army, lies a long path of rises and falls, of strikes and betrayals, of successes and personal pain. The path of a female politician who always walked tall!

 Iliyana Yotova rose to the international scene after the European Parliament elections in Bulgaria in May 2007, when she became a member of the European Parliament from the group of Socialists and Democrats.

 As a member of the European Parliament, she did not blend in with the Brussels choir. For example, she not only did not give in to the anti-Russian hysteria, but also defended Bulgaria's right to have special relations with Russia.

 As deputy chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in the European Parliament, she was drawing attention to the problems faced by countries in Southern Europe with illegal migration. She did so at a time when political correctness required immigrants to be welcomed with "welcome" instead of "give me your documents".  

  As vice-president, at a time when our Euro-Atlantic partners admired the new leadership in Kiev, she was the only one to declare that the law on education, adopted by the Supreme Rada of Ukraine, is an attack against minorities because it violates their right to study in their mother tongue. She visited the Bulgarians in Ukraine and Moldova, never tiring of pointing out that they are part of the Bulgarian nation.

 Touring dozens of communities from Taraklia to Chicago, fighting to preserve Bulgarian schools and language, turning the issue of Bulgarians abroad into her cause.

 Unlike other people in high government positions, her visits abroad were not "diplomatic tourism", they had meaning, carried a national charge, and ignited love for Bulgaria.

  Yotova was the calm, balanced "voice of the presidency". She often expressed a position that the head of state would "study" before making a statement. This was the case with "Lukoil" and the budget project for 2026, which, due to protests, never became a reality.

 Without being aggressive towards the authorities, without sowing insults and divisions, Yotova rationally defined the budget as "dangerous for both Bulgaria and the eurozone", emphasizing the lack of reforms. Conspiracy theories about "emptying the treasury" surfaced. According to her, the budget does not offer a long-term economic vision, which was a fact. She also supported the protests of the trade unions, stating that "no one is happy" with the proposed parameters. Yotova never loses touch with the left, with the unjust in our society. And at the same time - she never deviates from Bulgaria's European path in the slightest.

  When she speaks about a given issue, she is always prepared down to the smallest detail. Yotova can speak about energy with expertise, just as easily as she quotes French classics or recites poetry. She can speak to academics and ordinary people alike. Unlike Radev, she can calmly debate with opponents, her speech shows intelligence, diplomacy and inner spirituality, which Radev lacks.

 "We don't know what will happen with the refinery, where the new supplies will come from and how the thousands of workers there will be protected," she said regarding the case with the ownership of "Burgas-Neftochim". At the end of last year, Yotova expressed the opinion of "Dondukov" 2 on the so-called parliamentary roulette and the possibility of forming a second cabinet in the 51st parliament. She predicted that in 2026 there will be at least two elections - for parliament and for president. "The situation has changed a lot!" "I see a sincere desire from people to participate in elections and use their vote to rearrange the political configuration in the country," said Yotova at the time.

 Through her work at "Dondukov" 2, Iliyana Yotova showed that the position of Vice President is important. That it is not something unnecessary, outdated by the political balances at the beginning of the transition, which should be abolished.

  There is also something else - during the nine years she has been in this position, Iliyana Yotova has not been involved in any scandals - neither political, nor personal.

 Bulgaria is ready for a female president - Bulgarian women are resilient and well-prepared, she predicted just a month ago.

  And she was right!

  Now, she enters history - taking on the highest state position in an extremely difficult and tense situation, one that Bulgaria has never experienced before. She inherits from Rumen Radev, but she will have to show her own mark as a head of state.

  Her trials are yet to come.

 They will try to compare her to Radev in order to attack her; they will belittle her because she is a woman; they will criticize her because she is left-wing; they will search for political dependencies, they will hate her and make her a scapegoat. This is the political picture in today's Bulgaria. But she will be respected!

  And her word will carry weight. Her first trial will be the choice of an interim prime minister, and her coordination with him regarding the appointment of interim ministers. After that, there will be the organization of the elections - probably the most difficult in the last 15 years.

  Iliana Yotova must utilize all of her skills, experience and professionalism, tact and life wisdom, to guide Bulgaria through these difficult times - to bring institutional stability to the country and restore the authority of the presidential office. Good luck, Iliana Yotova!