Iohannis, a pro-EU centrist, had initially planned to remain in office until his successor was elected. However, his position was fiercely criticized by far-right politicians and their supporters, who gained significant ground in the first round of December's election. That vote was later annulled by Romania's top court due to allegations of Russian state interference.
The cancellation triggered widespread unrest, with tens of thousands of Romanians taking to the streets last month to protest what they saw as an attack on democracy.
Opposition lawmakers, capitalizing on the growing dissatisfaction, renewed their push to suspend Iohannis, putting forward a motion in parliament that could have led to his impeachment.
Faced with the prospect of a divisive political battle, Iohannis announced on Monday that he would step down voluntarily, arguing that his resignation would spare the country from further turmoil.
"In order to spare Romania and its citizens from crisis, I resign from the office of president," he said in a press conference at Cotroceni Palace. "I will leave office the day after tomorrow, on February 12."
His departure leaves Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan, leader of the ruling coalition's Liberal Party, as interim president with limited powers until the election.
Meanwhile, the political landscape remains highly polarized, with the far-right gaining influence. NATO-critic Calin Georgescu, a little-known figure before last year's vote, has emerged as a key contender.
The European Union and NATO member state, which shares a border with Ukraine, has been thrown into institutional uncertainty since Georgescu's unexpected success in the December election.
With mainstream pro-European parties divided and the far-right gaining traction, analysts believe some centrist lawmakers may have been willing to back the impeachment effort, further fueling Romania's political crisis.
Crin Antonescu, the candidate backed by the ruling coalition, said Iohannis' resignation was the "preferable outcome" compared to impeachment, which he argued would have only distracted from key national issues.
With the election re-run just months away, Romania now faces an uncertain political future, with its democratic institutions under scrutiny and growing concerns about external influence in its electoral process.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/romanian-president-resigns-ahead-of-election-re-run
