Romania’s newly elected President Klaus Iohannis, announced that he resigned as mayor of Sibiu, on December 2, 2014, to take over the presidential mandate in the following weeks.

“I thank all the citizens of Sibiu who entrusted me with this job four times,” said Iohannis. He has been serving as mayor of Sibiu since 2000 and was re-elected in this position three times, with some of the highest scores in Romania. In June 2012, he won his fourth mandate in the first round of the local elections with some 78% of the votes.

“For me it was an honour and a privilege to serve as their mayor for 14 and a half years,” Iohannis added, also thanking his colleagues in the city hall.

During his mandates, Sibiu became European Culture Capital, in 2007, and one of the most admired cities in Romania. Sibiu is located in Transylvania and has a population of almost 150,000.

Klaus Iohannis won the second round of presidential elections in Romania, on November 16, with more than 54% of the total votes, surpassing current Prime Minister Victor Ponta. The result was validated on November 21.

Klaus Iohannis will start his presidential mandate on December 22.

Meanwhile, he will go in a “private visit” in the U.S. Iohannis will be in the U.S. between December 4 and December 11.