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

Romania's top court said Iohannis, whose second and last term expired on Dec. 21, should stay on until his replacement is elected, after it voided the presidential ballot on suspicion of Russian interference.

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.

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

Romania’s top court cancelled the presidential elections in December amid allegations of Russian meddling and after a far-right candidate won.

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.