Romania's centrist president has stepped down following pressure from opposition far-right populist parties after a presidential election was annulled in December amid accusations of Russian meddling.

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

Romania's liberal party leader Ilie Bolojan, part of the ruling coalition, took office as interim president Wednesday after the pro-European incumbent Klaus Iohannis, threatened with impeachment, resigned earlier in the week.