BUCHAREST, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Romania’s liberal interior minister Catalin Predoiu became interim premier on Tuesday, the presidency announced, a day after the prime minister’s resignation deepened political tumult in the EU nation.
Romania’s pro-EU Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stepped down on Monday after a far-right candidate topped the first round of a tense presidential vote rerun.
Far-right EU critic George Simion topped Sunday’s election first round, while the ruling coalition’s candidate narrowly lost out to Bucharest’s mayor for the second spot.
Ciolacu’s resignation comes just two weeks ahead of the presidential vote runoff on May 18 in the EU and NATO member, which has gained in strategic importance since Russia invaded Ukraine, neighbouring Romania.
Ciolacu said his Social Democrats (PSD) party would leave the ruling coalition but they are expected to remain in the government on an interim basis until after the election run-off.
Predoiu, 56, is a former justice minister who already served as interim premier in 2012.
Predoiu, who practiced as a lawyer in the past, is also the current interim president of the liberals (PNL).
Predoiu told reporters on Monday that the liberals have “sworn-in ministers in the government, they will carry out their duties”.
“As long as these mandates are in office, the PNL does its duty,” he said. — NNN-AGENCIES
