One of the new government’s priority tasks will be organizing fresh presidential elections, after November’s first-round vote was
annulled by the constitutional court over allegations of Russian meddling.
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) finished first in a December 1 parliamentary ballot, followed by the far-right Alliance for the Unification of Romanians (AUR), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the reformist Save Romania Union (USR). Pro-EU parties have formed an alliance in an effort to sideline the extreme right.
The acting head of the PNL, Ilie Bolojan, said on Monday that a new government would be in place in Bucharest by the end of the year and also expressed hope that a stable pro-European parliamentary majority would be formed.
“I hope we will have a government with broad parliamentary support to implement necessary reforms,” Bolojan was quoted by the Romania-Insider news site as saying.
PSD spokesperson Lucian Romaşcanu said a new government would be finalized soon after December 21, adding that it was premature to talk about ministerial roles.
Once the new parliament has been sworn in, the president will nominate a prime minister following consultations with parliamentary parties. The prime minister-designate will then propose ministers and a program of government.