The President of the Romanian Senate, Ilie Bolojan, will ensure the interim presidency, according to the Constitution, after Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation starting from February 12.
According to Article 98 of the Romanian Constitution, if the office of the president becomes vacant or if the president is suspended from office or is temporarily unable to exercise his duties, the interim will be ensured, in order, by the President of the Senate or the President of the Chamber of Deputies.
Therefore, the President of the Senate, Ilie Bolojan, will become the interim president of Romania until the new head of state is elected in the presidential elections in May.
Bolojan is also the interim president of the PNL, a position he must now relinquish. Sources from the party claim that the interim leader in his place will be Cătălin Predoiu, the Minister of Internal Affairs.
The Constitution establishes that the interim president will assume all the duties of a head of state, with three exceptions:
- - cannot address Parliament on the main political issues of the nation;
- - cannot dissolve Parliament;
- - cannot ask the people to express their will through a referendum on issues of national interest.
The other prerogatives, both in foreign policy and defense, will be ensured by the interim president.
Thus, according to the Constitution, the interim president can conclude international treaties on behalf of Romania, accredit the diplomatic representatives of Romania, and approve the closure or change of the rank of diplomatic missions.
Additionally, the interim president will be the commander of the armed forces and will fulfill the role of the President of the Supreme Council of the Country's Defense, a position from which partial or total mobilization of the armed forces can be declared.
Among the interim president's duties is also the appointment to public offices, granting the ranks of marshal, general, and admiral, conferring decorations and honorary titles.
Moreover, the interim president can grant individual pardons.
Even the interim president can be suspended from office if they commit serious offenses that violate the provisions of the Constitution.