Romanian PM resigns after coalition's election setback
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation after the governing coalition's candidate failed in the presidential elections.
What do you need to know?
- Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation after the governing coalition's candidate did not advance to the second round of the presidential elections.
- Crin Antonescu, supported by three coalition parties, came in third with 20.07% of the votes.
- The date for new parliamentary elections in Romania has not yet been set.
On Monday, just before noon, Ciolacu announced that he would propose to his party colleagues to leave the coalition. "If they support this, then I will resign from the position of Prime Minister," he stated.
The head of government gained support for his motion and subsequently submitted his resignation.
The date for the parliamentary elections is still unknown.
Presidential elections in Romania
In the presidential elections on Sunday, Crin Antonescu, the joint candidate supported by three coalition parties—PSD, the National Liberal Party (PNL), and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR)—came in third place with 20.07% of the votes and therefore did not make it to the second round.
The first place, with more than 40%, was taken by the leader of the radical right-wing party AUR, George Simion, while the second place went to the mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, with 21% of the votes.
