Political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu argues that President Klaus Iohannis had no other option but to resign office, yet on the other hand, his gesture only deepens the crisis and mainly benefits the far-right opposition.

„Given the immense pressures that were exerted, the president had no other alternative but to resign, because pressure came from all directions. It’s hard for me to say whether the current government majority warned him that they would not support him at the vote on the impeachment move, but I think he preferred this option because, in reality, he no longer had any political support,” Pirvulescu told AGERPRES on Monday.

He explained that „under the given circumstances, the crisis only deepens with the resignation of President Iohannis, it doesn’t stop here”, because „a host of other problems will arise, although for the moment this somewhat de-escalated the mounting tension the extreme right and the Save Romania Union in particular were manipulating for electoral purposes. It’s difficult to say at this point if this benefits anyone. From my point of view, the main beneficiary is the far right. They asked for it, they got it,” said Professor Cristian Pirvulescu.

Klaus Iohannis announced on Monday that he is stepping down as President of Romania, mentioning that he will leave the Cotroceni Palace on February 12.

Iohannis specified that the decision comes as the Romanian Parliament on Monday set in motion the procedure to impeach him.

„In order to spare Romania and its citizens a crisis, this unnecessary and negative development, I resign from the position of President of Romania. I will leave office the day after tomorrow, on February 12. May God bless Romania,” Iohannis told a press conference at the Cotroceni Palace.

AGERPRES