New Pro-European Coalition Government Takes Office in Romania Amid Post-Election Political Crisis
On Monday, Romanian lawmakers narrowly approved a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move aims to end the political crisis caused by far-right victories in the last election and the cancellation of the presidential race, digi24 reports.
Chiolac's new government was sworn in before President Johannis, receiving a vote of confidence from the parliament on the verge of passing: 240 votes in favour. This is only seven more than the minimum required number.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday evening at the first meeting of the new government that he was pleased that Romania has a functional executive that sends an ‘important signal of stability’ to the economic environment and partners.
‘We know what we have to do, and above all, we know what mistakes we should not repeat,’ the prime minister also said.
Chiolac's new cabinet has 16 ministries: eight under the PSD, six under the PNL and two under the UDMR.
On Monday morning, the leaders of the PSD-PNL-UDMR-minority coalition announced that they had reached a consensus on the functioning of the executive branch, as well as on a common candidate for the presidential election, Crin Antonescu.