Romania: President Iohannis Resigns Amidst Political Turmoil and Election Controversies

President Klaus Iohannis of Romania announced his resignation amid political turmoil and pressure from opposition parties. Iohannis cited the need to avert a crisis for Romania and its citizens as the reason for his decision. The resignation is expected to take effect on Wednesday, with Senate President Ilie Bolojan temporarily assuming the role of head of state. Iohannis's decision follows criticism after the annulment of the first round of presidential elections. His second and final term officially expired on December 21, but he had stated his intention to remain in office until a successor was elected. Three far-right opposition groups, holding approximately 35 percent of parliamentary seats, had filed a request to initiate impeachment proceedings against Iohannis. The first round of presidential elections was invalidated by the Romanian Constitutional Court on November 24 due to suspected Russian interference. The court cited manipulation of voters through preferential treatment of a candidate, Calin Georgescu, on social media platforms like TikTok. Georgescu, a pro-Russian candidate advocating for Romania's exit from the EU and NATO, gained unexpected traction. New presidential elections are scheduled for May 4, with a potential second round on May 18 if no candidate secures over 50 percent of the vote.