Pro-European Romanian President Klaus Iohannis Resigns Ahead of Impeachment Vote Under Far-Right Pressure

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced his resignation. The day before, in an emotional speech, he said he was stepping down to ‘spare’ his country from the crisis that followed the cancelled presidential election last year. 

Iohannis, a pro-European politician, has been under pressure from far-right parties since the failed vote in December. 

Last month, over a thousand Romanians took part in protests called by the main opposition far-right party. They marched through the streets of Bucharest, shouting slogans against Iohannis.

Pro-Russian candidate Georgescu, who won the first, annulled vote thanks to expensive, large-scale advertising on TikTok, which was financed opaquely by pro-Russian sources, said the rejection of the results was tantamount to a ‘formalised coup d'état’.

Several opposition parties, including the far-right Alliance for Romanian Unity (AUR), the nationalist SOS party and the Young People's Party, had sought Iohannis' removal through impeachment motions. 

It was expected that some lawmakers from the ruling coalition would also vote to remove the president, whose popularity has plummeted due to people's dissatisfaction with soaring prices and inflation.

The second round of the presidential election was due to take place in December, but was cancelled due to allegations of Russian interference after far-right candidate Kelin Georgescu won the first round.

The first round of the presidential election, which took place on 24 November, propelled the pro-Russian ultranationalist Georgescu from relative obscurity to the top of the race.

But he still won only 22.9 per cent of the vote, far short of the majority needed for a landslide victory. 

Georgescu was supposed to take part in the second round of elections on 8 December. But Romania's Supreme Court took an unprecedented step two days before the runoff to cancel the presidential race after declassified Romanian intelligence reports pointed to Russian interference. 

Georgescu, who has previously praised Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as ‘a man who loves his country’ and called Ukraine ‘an invented state,’ called Iohannis' resignation ’a victory for the people of Romania.’

Iohannis's term as president was extended after the vote was cancelled, and he had already served a maximum of two five-year terms. He said he would remain in office until a successor is elected in a new first round of presidential elections scheduled for 4 May 2025.

Currently, Romanian Senate President Ilies Bolojan is expected to carry out presidential duties covering military and foreign policy until a successor is elected.