President Klaus Iohannis stated, on Wednesday, that the extension of his mandate as president, after the cancellation of the presidential election, is constitutionally and legally clear.

„How can I leave if the Constitution tells me to stay? It is not a choice. If I were to leave, it would mean leaving by resignation,” he said.

In this case, Iohannis added, the resignation should have an „extremely, extremely solid” motivation.

„Not for the interest of a politician or another politician who wants to profile himself against me. I would only do it, I repeat, when there would be a major public interest, which otherwise cannot be resolved,” he explained.

Klaus Iohannis emphasized that the extension of the mandate is not an interference on his part, but is an article of the Constitution.

„Our Constitution, on this point, is very clear and this situation is expressly provided for in Article 82 of the Constitution. So, it is not somehow an interference on my part in constitutional matters, but it is an article of the Constitution. The mandate of the president ends when that the newly elected president takes the oath – period, without any possibility of interpretation. The Constitutional Court did not extend my mandate, as it is mistakenly conveyed by some politicians, who probably did not have time to read the article in the law, even though it is only one line. The Constitutional Court emphasized that this article exists and it applies, that is all. The Constitutional Court said it’s the law and the law applies! That’s what the Constitutional Court said and this is what I do. I can’t leave (…) Things are constitutionally clear,” he said.

The politicians who say the opposite, argued Iohannis, want to „seem like the saviors of the nation and not me”.

The president called for the organization of presidential elections as soon as possible. „I don’t think that a delay would help anything,” the head of state said.

On Thursday, President Klaus Iohannis will participate in the European Council meeting.

AGERPRES