Romanian President Klaus Iohannis designated Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu to take over now ex-prime minister Nicolae Ciuca as Romania’s interim prime minister on Monday, according to Euractiv.
In 2021, when the social-democrats (PSD) and the Liberals (PNL), together with the Hungarian minority party (UDMR), decided to form a coalition, they established a so-called rotation of the prime ministers, with Ciuca serving until the end of May 2023, followed by Marcel Ciolacu until general elections in late 2024.
But, what was initially expected to be a straightforward process, has become a source of uncertainty and endless negotiations in the last months, while important subjects, such as the targets of the national recovery plan, have been sidelined.
The biggest teachers’ strike in the last 18 years also complicated the situation. The strike ended on Monday, but the new government will have difficulty finding the money promised to teachers.
The social-democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu tried on Monday to ease tensions, emphasizing that Romania has a consolidated democracy and, for the first time, the leaders of the most important parties in Romania have kept their promises.
The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) will leave the ruling coalition unless it gets the Ministry of Development in the future government, UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor reiterated on Monday.
”We left the door open. There is room for negotiation, but without the development portfolio, we cannot move forward, but we can discuss, if our colleagues want, about the environment portfolio”, Kelemen said.
However, many liberals, including MEP Gheorghe Falca, favor a development portfolio.
It is worth noting that the social democrats and liberals have a majority in Parliament without UDMR.
Another liberal MEP, Cristian Busoi, could be given the position of energy or environment minister.
Ciuca remains optimistic that a new government will be formed by the end of this week.