site.btaRomanian President Iohannis Says He Would Present Bid for NATO Top Job to Supreme Council of National Defence

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will present his bid for NATO Secretary General to the country's Supreme Council for National Defence, which will be meeting on Thursday, June 20. The head of State announced this to journalists during a joint press conference with his visiting Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. A video of the event can be viewed on the official website of the president's office.

Klaus Iohannis specified that after the Council meeting he would also publicly announce the decision taken on the issue. 

Asked whether he would still support his candidacy for the top job at NATO given that Hungary and Slovakia have announced their support for Mark Rutte and Romania remains the only country in the Alliance that has not announced support for the Dutch prime minister, Iohannis said, "For NATO, more tomorrow. I can assure you that tomorrow afternoon you will have clarity".

This is Klaus Iohannis' first public appearance after all other NATO leaders announced their support for Mark Rutte as Secretary General of the Alliance.

On 12 March, the Romanian president announced that he was joining the race for NATO secretary general. On 18 June, the Netherlands broadcasting corporation (NOS) announced that outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be the new NATO Secretary General, replacing Jens Stoltenberg, who is stepping down this autumn.