In a significant political development, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has announced his resignation, responding to mounting pressure as the country prepares for a re-run of a contentious presidential election. This decision comes in the wake of last year’s election being annulled due to serious allegations of interference by the Russian government.
Controversial election cancellation leads to protests
The December election was declared void by Romania’s supreme court, prompting widespread criticism and unrest. Iohannis, a pro-European Union liberal, had initially planned to remain in office until a successor was chosen in May 2024. However, his stance faced fierce opposition from far-right factions and their supporters, who had shown strong performance during the first round of voting in December.
This political climate escalated last month when thousands of Romanians took to the streets, voicing their discontent over the election’s abrupt cancellation. The protests highlighted growing dissatisfaction with the current administration and calls for political accountability.
Iohannis steps down to prevent further division
As the situation intensified, opposition lawmakers introduced a motion in parliament aimed at suspending the president. In a bid to mitigate what he described as a potentially “damaging” referendum, Iohannis decided to resign. He stated,
“In order to spare Romania and the Romanian citizens from crisis… I resign from the office of president of Romania,”
signifying his intent to step aside for the sake of national unity.
His official departure from the presidency is scheduled for Wednesday, marking the end of an era as Romania navigates through a critical electoral period.