Politics

Far-right opposition launches bid to impeach Romania’s outgoing president

President Klaus Iohannis’ second and last term expired on December 21, but he will stay on until his successor is elected. Photo: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images
President Klaus Iohannis’ second and last term expired on December 21, but he will stay on until his successor is elected. Photo: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images
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Romania’s three opposition far-right parties have started a process aiming to remove outgoing centrist President Klaus Iohannis from office after a canceled presidential election, but their chances of succeeding are unlikely.

The European Union and NATO state, which borders Ukraine, was plunged into institutional chaos last year after far-right NATO critic Călin Georgescu won the first round of a November 24 presidential election. That prompted accusations of Russian interference – denied by Moscow – and ultimately led to the annulment of the entire ballot.

With the two-round election set to be re-run on May 4 and May 18, Romania’s top court said Iohannis, whose second and last term expired on December 21, will stay on until his successor is elected.

But on Thursday, three far-right opposition parties, which control around 35% of parliament seats, filed a request to impeach Iohannis.

The three groupings, whose support has risen following Georgescu’s surprise win in the now-voided first round, have backed his unsuccessful attempts to have the annulment overturned.

While impeachment requests can be filed by a third of lawmakers, under Romanian law they need a majority in parliament to vote in favor. The pro-European ruling coalition that emerged after a December 1 parliamentary election has a small majority, but one that is expected to hold.
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