BERLIN, Feb 11: Romania's centrist president, Klaus Iohannis, announced his resignation in an emotional address Monday, saying he was stepping down to "spare" his country from the crisis that followed a canceled presidential vote last year, Deutsche Welle reported.
A second runoff vote for the presidential race was due December, but were called off amid claims of Russian meddling following a first-round victory by far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.
The first round of the presidential vote that was held on November 24 propelled pro-Russian ultranationalist Georgescu from relative obscurity to the top of the race.
But he still only won 22.9% of the vote, which was far short of the majority needed to win outright.
Georgescu was meant to compete in a runoff vote on December 8. But Romania's top court made an unprecedented move two days before the runoff to cancel the presidential race after declassified Romanian intelligence reports indicated Russian interference, stated DW.
Georgescu—who has previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a man who loves his country" and called Ukraine "an invented state"—called Iohannis's resignation a "victory for the people of Romania."
He wrote on X that "Now, it's time to return to 'rule of law' - resume 2nd round of elections!"
Iohannis's tenure as president — he has already served a maximum of two five-year terms—was extended after the annulled vote. He said he would remain in office until a successor was chosen in a fresh first round of presidential elections set for May 4, 2025.
The leader of Romania's senate, Ilie Bolojan, is expected to take over presidential duties, which cover military and foreign policies, until a successor is elected, reported DW.