Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday following mounting pressure from populist opposition groups, two months after the country’s top court annulled a presidential election.
“To spare Romania from this crisis, I am resigning as president of Romania,” Iohannis said in a televised address, stating that he will leave office on Feb. 12.
Iohannis, 65, has served as president since 2014, completing the maximum two five-year terms. His tenure was extended in December after the Constitutional Court canceled the presidential election just days before a Dec. 8 runoff. The decision followed allegations of Russian interference and electoral violations after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round.
Several opposition parties, including the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), the nationalist S.O.S. Party, and the Party of Young People, alongside some members of the reformist Save Romania Union, pushed for Iohannis’ removal through a parliamentary motion. Lawmakers from the ruling coalition were also expected to support the effort.
“This is a useless endeavor because, in any case, I will leave office in a few months after the election of the new president,” Iohannis said. “It is an unfounded move because I have never— I repeat, never—violated the constitution. And it is a harmful endeavor because … everyone loses, and no one gains.”
He warned that his removal would have “long-lasting and highly negative” consequences for Romania, a European Union member since 2007 and a NATO member since 2004.
New dates have been set for the presidential election rerun, with the first round scheduled for May 4. A runoff will take place on May 18 if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. It remains unclear whether Georgescu will be allowed to run.
Following Iohannis’ resignation announcement, clashes erupted between Georgescu supporters and police outside the government headquarters in Bucharest.
