In a surprising turn of events, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday, citing mounting pressure from populist opposition groups. This decision comes two months after a top court in the European Union country annulled a presidential election, leading to a political crisis.
In an emotional address, Iohannis, who has held the presidential role since 2014, expressed his intention to step down on Feb. 12 to prevent further turmoil in Romania. His presidency, which was set to end after serving two five-year terms, was extended in December following the cancellation of the presidential race by the Constitutional Court just days before a scheduled runoff.
The cancellation of the election came after far-right populist Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round, sparking allegations of Russian interference and electoral violations. Subsequently, several opposition parties, including the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) and the nationalist S.O.S party, sought Iohannis' removal through a motion filed to Parliament.
Despite the efforts to oust him, Iohannis maintained that he had never violated the constitution and emphasized the potential negative consequences of his removal on Romania's international standing. As an EU member since 2007 and a NATO member since 2004, Romania's political stability is crucial for its relationships with partner countries.
Following Iohannis' resignation announcement, clashes erupted between Georgescu supporters and police outside the government building in Bucharest. New dates have been set for a rerun of the presidential vote, with the first round scheduled for May 4. The possibility of Georgescu participating in the new election remains uncertain, raising further questions about the country's political future.
