The Romanian Constitutional Court invalidated the presidential election and ordered a new election process. Therefore, the media analyzes possible scenarios about who will rule the country in the near future. The term of office of President Klaus Iohannis ends on December 21. Iohannis has already commented on this.
On Friday, the Romanian Constitutional Court declared the first round of presidential elections invalid. Their second round was supposed to take place on Sunday. The court statement said that the election process will be completely re-run and the government will set a new date for the election and a calendar of necessary actions.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) revealed reports from the Romanian intelligence services, which showed that the first round of cyber attacks on electoral systems involved an external “state actor”.
The term of office of the president will expire in two weeks
Romania has more than three months until the next presidential election, which was ruled by the court. According to experts, given that the entire election process from nomination and registration of candidates should be done again, they may be held in March. The key question in this situation is who will replace Klaus Iohannis when his term ends on December 21.
The media and experts, analyzing the provisions of Romania, show that the most likely scenario is that the new president of the Senate will assume the duties of the head of state. Article 98(1) of the Constitution states that if the office of the president is vacant during the transition period, the chairman of the Senate or the chairman of the Chamber of Deputies will perform his duties.
The confirmation of the results of the parliamentary elections on December 1 is ongoing. After the convocation of the parliament and 20 days before the election, the new chairman of the Senate will be elected. It is this person who will assume the position of head of state after the end of the term of office of the deposed president (December 21). The press cites the clause of the constitution, which states that the powers of the president and the parliament can be extended only in exceptional cases. In the case of the president, it's war or disaster. As for the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, the term of their powers will be extended in case of “a situation of mobilization, war, siege or state of emergency until their end”.
President Iohannis: I will remain in office
On the other hand, Art. Article 83 of the constitution states that “the President of Romania shall exercise his authority until the newly elected President is sworn in.” Some commentators believe that this provision could be interpreted to allow Iohannis to remain in office until the next presidential election.
And it was article 83 of the constitution that President Klaus Iohannis spoke on Friday evening and announced: – I will remain in my position until the election of the new president.
Klaus Iohannis Francesco Ammendola / EPA / PAP
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
