Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday, succumbing to increasing pressure from populist opposition groups, just two months after a top court annulled a presidential election in the European Union nation, reports AP.

"I am stepping down as president of Romania to spare the country from this crisis," Iohannis stated in an emotional speech, confirming he would leave office on February 12.

Iohannis, 65, had been president since 2014, serving the maximum two five-year terms. However, his tenure was extended in December after the Constitutional Court invalidated the presidential election two days before the December 8 runoff. This decision followed an unexpected victory in the first round by far-right populist Calin Georgescu, which prompted allegations of Russian interference and electoral fraud.

Several opposition parties, including the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), the nationalist S.O.S party, the Party of Young People, and some members of the reformist Save Romania Union (USR) party, filed a motion in Parliament seeking Iohannis' removal. It was expected that some members of the governing coalition would also support the motion.

“This is a futile effort because, in any case, I will depart office in a few months after the new president is elected,” Iohannis said. “It is an unjustified move as I have never—repeat, never—violated the constitution. And it is a harmful effort because... everyone loses, and no one wins.”

He warned that the consequences of his ouster would be “long-lasting and highly detrimental” to Romania, an EU member since 2007 and a NATO member since 2004. "None of our partners will understand why Romania is removing its president when the process for electing a new one is already underway," he said.

New dates have been set for the presidential election, with the first round on May 4. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be held two weeks later, on May 18. It remains uncertain whether Georgescu will be eligible to participate in the new election.

Following Iohannis' resignation announcement, clashes erupted between Georgescu’s supporters and police outside the government building in Bucharest.

Elena Lasconi from the USR, who was set to face Georgescu in the runoff, expressed in a statement that Iohannis' resignation was "far too late to be seen as honorable."

"I am glad that the pressure USR exerted in Parliament stirred Iohannis from his inaction, and we will not stop here," she said. "We must realign state institutions to serve the citizens, not temporary leaders holding power."

She added, "We need truth, justice, and a true leader who will keep us firmly aligned with the West!"

AUR leader George Simion posted on X, declaring, "The usurper is finally gone," and added that “if he had not resigned, he would have been impeached by the Romanian Parliament and thrown out.”