Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday following the launch of impeachment proceedings against him. The move comes after last year’s presidential election was annulled due to allegations of Russian interference.
The Constitutional Court invalidated the December election after far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, a relatively unknown figure, won outright in the first round amid claims of foreign meddling.
Iohannis, a pro-European leader, had previously stated that he would remain in office until a new election in May. However, mounting pressure led lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings on Monday, following two previous opposition-led attempts.
“In order to spare Romania and its citizens a crisis, I am resigning from the presidency,” Iohannis declared, confirming that he will officially step down on Wednesday.
He warned that Romania is on the brink of a political crisis, stating, “In a few days, parliament will vote on my impeachment, which will push Romania into turmoil with both domestic and international consequences.” He maintained that he had “never violated the constitution.”
