AKIPRESS.COM - Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will step down on February 12, local media quoted his statement as saying.

"Today, the Romanian parliament has launched the procedure to remove the president from office," he said, calling this demarche unjustified. "In a few days, the Romanian parliament will vote on my resignation, and Romania will be in a state of turmoil because a referendum on the resignation of the president will commence."

Iohannis foresees a division in Romanian society, while no foreign nation will understand why this step is being taken if preparations for the presidential elections are already underway.

"In fact, everyone will mock us," he said. "To save Romania and Romanian citizens from this crisis, from such a pointless and detrimental course of events, I am resigning as president," he said. "I will vacate my position the day after tomorrow, on February 12th."