The Romanian president announces his resignation on 12 February

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will resign on 12 February, he wrote in a statement on Facebook:

The procedure for the suspension of the President was launched today in the Romanian Parliament. This is an unnecessary step, because in a few months' time, after the election of a new President, I would no longer be in office anyway. It is unjustified because I have never, I repeat never, violated the Constitution. And it is a harmful approach because everybody loses, nobody wins. In a few days' time, the Romanian Parliament would vote to remove me and Romania would be in crisis, because a referendum would be called to remove the President from office. This whole process will have internal and, unfortunately, external repercussions.

Internally, the referendum will have a significantly negative impact. Society will be divided, some will agree, others will not. The whole debate will revolve around the negatives. The whole society will be in confusion. There will be no discussion about the forthcoming presidential elections. There will be no discussion about how Romania will continue. Candidates will not even be able to present their ideas in this negative amalgam.

The externalities will be permanent and very negative. Absolutely none of our partners will understand why Romania is recalling its President when, in fact, the procedure for electing a new President has already begun. Absolutely no one will understand the point of such a move if the current President is going to leave anyway. In Romanian terms, we will effectively be a laughing stock.

To spare Romania and the Romanian people this crisis, this senseless and negative development, I am resigning as President of Romania. I will leave office the day after tomorrow, 12 February. God bless Romania!

Facebook/ gnews - RoZ