Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis Resigns Ahead of Impeachment Threat

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis resigned to preempt an impending impeachment by hard-right opposition parties. Following a voided presidential election marred by claims of interference, the country is set to re-run the elections in May. Iohannis’s resignation allows Senate speaker Ilie Bolojan to serve as interim president until the new elections.

On Monday, Klaus Iohannis, the outgoing centrist president of Romania, announced his resignation ahead of a planned impeachment by opposition hard-right parties. This decision comes in the aftermath of significant political upheaval in the country, primarily attributed to last year’s presidential election, which was marred by claims of Russian interference and ultimately voided by the Romanian Supreme Court.

The court mandated that the presidential election be re-run on May 4 and May 18, allowing Iohannis to remain in office until a successor is elected. However, the political landscape shifted as three hard-right opposition parties, which command approximately 35% of parliamentary seats, initiated a motion for Iohannis’s impeachment just as his popularity plummeted.

Klaus Iohannis’s resignation reflects the turbulent political climate in Romania, exacerbated by the rise of far-right opposition parties. As the country prepares for the re-run of presidential elections, the implications of this political turmoil are likely to affect both domestic governance and Romania’s position within the EU and NATO. Senate speaker Ilie Bolojan will serve as interim president, facing critical challenges ahead.

Original Source: www.cnn.com