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

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced Monday his resignation, ending his mandate before the presidential elections scheduled for May, and assured that his departure avoids a crisis because the Parliament was about to initiate an impeachment process.

Supporters of a far-right candidate rejoiced over the president's resignation after the first round of voting was annulled last year. A new vote is now scheduled for May.

Elected with the hope that he would continue the fight against corruption and bring a new approach to foreign policy, Klaus Iohannis has become, after ten years in office, the first president of Romania to resign.