Following mounting pressure from populist opposition groups, Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis has announced his resignation.
This came two months after a top court annulled a presidential election in the European Union country.
In an emotional address, Iohannis said, “To spare Romania from this crisis, I am resigning as President of Romania,” adding that he will leave office on February 12, 2025.
Iohannis, 65, held the presidential role since 2014 and served the maximum of two five-year terms.
However, his presidency was extended in December after the Constitutional Court canceled the presidential race two days before a December 8, 2024, runoff.
That came after the far-right populist Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round, after which allegations emerged of Russian interference and electoral violations.
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, but also some members of the reformist Save Romania Union party sought Iohannis’ ouster through a motion filed to Parliament. Some lawmakers from the governing coalition were also expected to vote in favor.
Iohannis said, “This is a useless endeavor because, in any case, I will leave office in a few months after the election of the new President.”
“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.”
Klaus Iohannis
He added that the consequences of his ouster would be “long-lasting and highly negative” for Romania, an EU member since 2007, and a NATO member since 2004.
“None of our partners will understand why Romania is dismissing its President when the process for electing a new president has already begun.”
Klaus Iohannis
New dates have been set to rerun the presidential vote with the first round scheduled for May 4, 2025.
If no candidate obtains more than 50% of the ballot, a runoff would be held two weeks later, on May 18, 2025.
It is not yet clear whether Georgescu will be able to participate in the new election.
After his resignation announcement, clashes broke out between Georgescu supporters and police in front of the government building in the capital, Bucharest.
Reaction To Iohannis’ Resignation
In the far-right, sovereignist camp, the resignation was taken as a victory.
The President of far-right party AUR, George Simion, welcomed “the departure of the usurper” and claimed that this is the victory of those who supported his removal from office.
“Klaus Iohannis has just resigned from office! The worst and most hated President in Romania’s history. If he hadn’t resigned, he would have been suspended by Parliament and removed. The second round of elections must be rerun urgently.”
George Simion
Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, a reformist and independent candidate for the presidency, offered a short comment regarding the resignation. “Klaus Iohannis has left. People’s dissatisfaction with the political class remains. Let’s build hope for the future of society together,” he said.
Elena Lasconi, President of reformist party Union Save Romania and second-placed candidate in the cancelled elections, said that the resignation “comes very late.”
“[It] doesn’t provide us with answers to the questions that have been troubling this country for two months: why were the elections annulled, how do we protect ourselves from Russian interference, who defends us from manipulation, can we guarantee the security of the next election?
“After 10 years with Iohannis at Cotroceni, unfortunately, and I say this as someone who once believed in him, Romania is more vulnerable than ever.”
Elena Lasconi
Crin Antonescu, the candidate designated by the PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition for the presidency, also reacted.
He said that Iohannis’ decision to resign “was a wise one” and that there are no “reasons to dramatize.”
He said that the President of the Senate will take over as interim President, and the government remains stable.
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