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

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.

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,

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 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.