site.btaGovernment Talks Start in Romania

The Social Democratic and National Liberal parties, the Save Romania Union, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians and representatives of the national minorities started negotiations on forming a new pro-European government this week, Digi24 reported. The new president was supposed to nominate the new prime minister, but the unexpected annulment of the first round of the presidential elections by Romania's Constitutional Court on December 6 led to President Klaus Iohannis's decision to stay in office after the end of his term. This means that the parties will negotiate with the outgoing President on the composition of the government and on a new prime minister.

The first step has already been taken as a pro-European majority took shape in the new parliament after the political forces signed a resolution, news.ro reported. With the document, the Social Democratic and National Liberal parties, the Save Romania Union, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians and the national minorities took responsibility to prevent Romania's international isolation, support a stable pace of economic development and defend the country's European course.

The Social Democratic Party believes that after it won the December 1 parliamentary elections and has the largest number of seats, it is entitled to name the prime minister and insists on a government led by Marcel Ciolacu once again.

Another option for a prime minister is the current leader of the National Liberal Party, Ilie Bolojan. He meets with approval both from the Save Romania Union and the Social Democratic Party, but the Liberals have a problem with their poor showing in the parliamentary elections, which could throw a spanner in their plans for the nomination of a prime minister.