Topical Information

Bulgaria now has a woman as president and supreme commander of the armed forces. Iliana Yotova is the sixth head of state in the 33-year history of the Bulgarian presidency. She will complete the term of the country’s fifth president.

A politician with long-standing and diverse experience, Yotova has an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of power both nationally and at the European level—in Sofia and Brussels.

In the 1990s, she was one of the recognizable faces of Bulgarian National Television. In 1997, she transitioned from journalism to politics, joining the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and becoming a member of the 40th National Assembly.

From 2007 to 2017, Yotova served as a Member of the European Parliament. Her work focused on key issues such as the fight against terrorism, the refugee and migration crisis, and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area. She authored numerous reports and legislative proposals as part of European efforts to address migration challenges.

Together with Rumen Radev, she won the presidential elections twice. Over the past nine years, her main priorities have been supporting Bulgarian communities abroad, preserving Sunday Bulgarian schools, and promoting the study of the Bulgarian language.

Yotova maintains an active and consistent dialogue with local authorities. Over the years, she has repeatedly participated in major forums and national events organized by NAMRB, expressing a clear position in support of Bulgarian municipalities and their role in the country’s sustainable development. Issues such as decentralization, European policies at the local level, and municipal support have been recurring themes in her public engagement.

Earlier this week, the NAMRB Governing Board decided to invite President Iliana Yotova as an official guest to the upcoming General Assembly of NAMRB, scheduled for 24 February in Sofia.