BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) – Romanian President Klaus Iohanis resigns on Monday after increasing pressure from populist opposition groups two months after a top court overturned presidential elections in the European Union country It has been announced.
“I am resigning as Romania’s president in order to save Romania from this crisis,” he said in an emotional speech.
Iohanis, 65, served as president since 2014, serving up to two five-year terms. However, his presidency was extended to December after the Constitutional Court cancelled the presidential race two days before the December 8 outflow.
It came after far-right populist Karin Georgek unexpectedly won the first round as allegations of Russian interference and election violations became apparent.
Several opposition parties including the Romanians’ Far Right Alliance for Romanian Unity (AUR), the Nationalist SOS Party, the Youth Party, and some members of the Reformed Save Romanian Union Party (USR) have ousted Iohanis I sought someone. A motion brought before the parliament. Several lawmakers from the Governance Union were also expected to vote in favor.
“This is an unhelpful effort, because in any case, I will take office a few months after the election of a new president,” Iohanis said. “I’ve never violated the Constitution, so it’s never been repeated, so it’s an unfounded move. And it’s… because everyone loses and no one gets it, so it’s harmful It’s an effort.”
He added that the outcome of his expulsion was “long-term and very negative” for Romania, his first EU member since 2007 and his first NATO member since 2004. The election of a new president has already begun,” he said.
After the announcement of his resignation, clashes broke out between Georgek supporters and police in front of government buildings in the capital, Bucharest, tear gas was used to disperse the protesters.
The new date is set to rerun the presidential votes in the first round scheduled for May 4th. If the candidate has not received more than 50% of the vote, the spill will be held two weeks later. Georgescu can take part in new elections.
Georgek called Ionnis’ resignation a “win for the Romanian people” and urged the resumption of presidential elections from the second round.
Although the interim president has not yet been appointed, the Senate president is to serve as a proxy president with limited authority. According to the Constitution, if they cannot, the next line is the representative president.
Bucharest-based political consultant Christian Andrei says Iohanis’ resignation is better for Romania than going to a referendum that “will have helped populists even more,” but in any case, “The populists can say they won.”
“Resignation doesn’t magically stop big complaints…and the uncertainty around the coalition of power and the list of presidential candidates grows now,” he said.
USR’s Elena Rasconi, who was set to counter Georjuk in the spill, said Iohanis’ resignation was “too late to consider it honorable.”
“We are pleased that the pressure applied by USR in Congress has awakened Iohanis from his sleep. We won’t stop here,” she said. “We need to reorganize state institutions to work for citizens, not for temporary figures that have been caught up in power.”
She added, “We need truth, justice, and a real leader who can firmly aim us towards the West!”
George Simion, leader of the AUR party, wrote in X’s post: “The taker has finally left,” he added, “If he hadn’t resigned, he would have been fired each to the (Romanian) parliament and abandoned.”
McGrath reported from Cigarla in Romania.
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