In the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the functions of head of state were performed by the reigning monarch or through a regency.

However, the general secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party also served de facto representative and executive for the country.

The modern history of the presidential institution in Bulgaria is relatively short and is mostly associated with the reconstruction of the country after the fall of the communist regime in 1989.

The first president of Bulgaria was a doctor of philosophy Zhelyu Zhelev, who had been elected by the National Assembly in 1990.

Plevneliev did not seek a second term in office and the 2016 election resulted in victory for Rumen Radev and Iliana Yotova.