Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday, stating the move is intended to prevent his country from experiencing a significant political crisis. His resignation will take effect on February 12, marking the end of his presidency which began eight years ago.
Iohannis’ decision has arisen from increasing discontent among the Romanian public and pressure from politically extreme factions demanding his departure. The resignation aims to mitigate the mounting impeachment threats orchestrated by hard-right parties within the Romanian parliament.
During his brief address, Iohannis explained, "To spare Romania and its citizens from this crisis, from this unnecessary and negative development, I am resigning from the office of President of Romania. I will leave office the day after tomorrow, on 12 February." He addressed concerns over the accusations leveled against him by opposition parties, which he characterized as baseless and harmful.
The resignation preempts a likely parliamentary vote focused on his impeachment, scheduled for the following day. Iohannis, who viewed the impeachment request as unfounded, expressed concern about the potential repercussions both domestically and internationally. "This will make Romania look like a laughing stock," he added, reflecting on how such political turmoil could affect Romania's international standing.
Having served two full terms, Iohannis found his presidency complicated by contentious developments, particularly the annulment of the 2023 presidential election results. This annulment was triggered by the Romanian Constitutional Court, which found substantial evidence of irregularities and allegations of electoral manipulation benefitting pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu. The court had determined Iohannis could remain due to the lack of clear constitutional guidelines on extending presidential terms, even as calls for his resignation intensified.
Right-wing parliamentary factions—including the Party of Young People (POT), the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), and SOS Romania—had spearheaded efforts to oust Iohannis. Their combined influence enabled them to gather sufficient support to present the impeachment motion successfully after previous attempts failed, primarily due to procedural hurdles.
Political analysts noted the growing momentum behind these hard-right parties following Georgescu's surprising performance during the annulled first round of voting. Reports indicated his campaign has garnered heightened attention, including alleged support from external entities, which added fuel to the fire of political unrest.
While Iohannis initially aimed to remain until his successor was sworn in, the circumstances pressured him to reconsider. With new presidential elections scheduled for May 4 and May 18, Iohannis’s painful decision to resign reflects the peaking political tensions. During his presidency, he had established himself as part of Romania's centrist pro-European coalition, aiming to maintain stability amid complex internal and external challenges.
Facing severe criticism over his role and the political environment, Iohannis’s exit sets the stage for the Senate president, Ilie Bolojan, to take over as interim president. Bolojan, representing the National Liberal Party (PNL), will assume limited powers, guiding Romania through the upcoming election period.
Citing his commitment to Romanian citizens, Iohannis reiterated, "It is a pointless endeavour because, in any case, I will be leaving office in a few months after the election of the new president." His comments underline the gravity of the current political situation and the pervasive sense of urgency to restore stability within Romania.
The future political climate remains uncertain as the nation braces for the turbulent months leading up to the elections. Analysts speculate about how the continuing unrest might reshape Romania's political framework, especially with the influence of far-right parties rising. Iohannis's resignation is expected to have enduring ramifications both domestically and internationally, leaving many to ponder what the next chapter will hold for Romania.