20/06/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 20 June, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General, leaving the way clear for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to succeed Jens Stoltenberg. “At the meeting of the country’s Supreme Council of National Defence, the President announced that he had informed NATO allies at the end of last week that he was withdrawing his candidacy for the post of Secretary General of the Organisation”, said the Romanian Presidency in a statement. At the request of Mr Iohannis, the members of the Supreme Council voted in favour of Romania’s support for Mr Rutte’s candidacy. (CG)