Newly elected Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and new Vice President Iliana Iotova were sworn in parliament. The ceremony saw attendance from the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Neophyte, outgoing President Rosen Plevneliev, outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, cabinet ministers and diplomats. “Statehood is built cumulatively so I should like to thank my predecessors”, President Rumen Radev said in his first address. He went on to say that Bulgaria had attained strategic goals – membership of the European Union and NATO. He pointed out that Bulgarians wanted strong personalities in parliament and cutting state subsidies allotted to political parties so the members of parliament were responsible for living up to these expectations of citizens. The head of state noted that pending problems in the era of transition had grown into a devastating demographic crisis and stated that it was now crucial to create conditions and make sure young people would remain in Bulgaria while Bulgarians living abroad preserved their spiritual contact with the country. Rumen Radev declared that he would be president of all Bulgarians regardless of party affiliations, religion and ethnicity.