New Delhi, Jan. 20 -- Bulgaria's left-leaning president Rumen Radev announced on Monday that he is stepping down from the mostly ceremonial post.

Radev has indicated he may contest an upcoming election that's widely expected after protests forced a center-right government to step down. The left-leaning president was an opponent of the government and threw his support to the protests in early December.

In a televised address, Radev said that he will formally submit his resignation to the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

Under the constitution, the current vice president, Iliana Yotova, must be sworn in by parliament to take the post until the end of the presidential mandate.

"The battle for the future of our homeland lies ahead, and I ...