Romanian political shake-up: Ciolacu resigns after 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% of the votes.
- The date for new parliamentary elections in Romania has not yet been set.
On Monday morning, 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 consequently 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% of the votes and therefore did not make it to the second round.
Leading with more than 40% of the votes was George Simion, leader of the radical right-wing party AUR, followed by the Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, with 21%.
