BUCHAREST, Romania — After over a decade in office, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stepped down on Wednesday and has been replaced by the senate president who will serve in an interim capacity until a new presidential election is held in spring.

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis has resigned following pressure for him to step down ahead of a re-run of a presidential election that was controversially cancelled last year. The December vote was voided by Romania's top court after allegations of Russian state meddling.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced his resignation following mounting pressure from populist opposition groups.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced he will step down, effective Wednesday, to avoid the spectacle of an impeachment process launched by Bucharest’s parliament.

MPs had launched a procedure to suspend Klaus Iohannis. 'In order to spare Romania and the Romanian citizens from crisis (...) I resign from the office of president of Romania,' he said.

His exit comes as political opponents had sought to remove him over remaining in office beyond the end of his term.

Romania’s outgoing president resigned in an effort to defuse political tension after a high court decision to annul a shock election result last year extended his tenure in office.

Romania's outgoing centrist president Klaus Iohannis resigned on Monday to pre-empt an impeachment bid by opposition parties in parliament, with voters highly polarized and the far-right graining ground ahead of a repeat presidential election in May.