Romania’s outgoing centrist president, Klaus Iohannis, resigned on Monday as opposition hard-right parliamentary parties planned to have him impeached.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation on Monday after a procedure to impeach him was launched amid anger over the cancellation of a presidential election last year. Lawmakers on Monday launched a procedure to impeach Iohannis,

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

A third request to suspend Iohannis from office was set to be discussed and voted upon in the country's parliament on Tuesday. View on euronews

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.

Significant changes in Romania. The country's President, Klaus Iohannis, announced his resignation from office on Monday. In recent weeks, the capital of Romania, Bucharest, has witnessed demonstrations involving thousands of participants.

By bne IntelliNews Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on February 10 announced his resignation effective February 12, arguing that the procedures initiated in parliament for his suspension from the post ahead of a dismissal referendum would push the country into a costly political crisis.

One Romanian political analyst says President Klaus Iohannis' decision to resign means "the populists can say they won."