Interim Romanian President Ilije Bolojan officially took office in Romania today, two days after the resignation of Klaus Iohannis, who was under public pressure after the annulment of presidential elections, which were contested by the far right.
"I am ready to perform this honorable function with respect for Romanian citizens and to guarantee the stability of our country," said Bolojan.
After a decade in power, Iohannis left the presidential palace in Bucharest after a military honors ceremony, wishing his successor luck.
Boložan, as President of the Senate at the time of his resignation, will serve as interim president until new presidential elections are held in May.
The first round of voting, held on November 24, was annulled, a rare occurrence in a European Union country, after the surprise victory of far-right candidate Calin Đorđescu.
The authorities justified the decision to annul the election by suspicions of Russian interference in the campaign.
Iohannis remained in office at the time, but tens of thousands of Romanians took to the streets to condemn the "coup d'état," and parliament was due to meet this week to discuss his impeachment proceedings.
Johannis therefore decided to step down, to avoid aggravating the political crisis.
The Bologna native is a former mayor of the northwestern city of Oradea and has been praised for renovating the city's historic center with European funds and modernizing its energy and transportation infrastructure.
The President of Romania has a ceremonial function, but possesses significant moral authority and influence in foreign policy.
The president's role has grown since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Romania has become a key pillar of NATO, hosting more than 5.000 troops and the Alliance's anti-missile system.
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