Romania’s PM-designate and interim Defense Minister Nicolae Ciucă announced late Monday that he is giving up the nomination to form a new government after it became clear he would not win approval in parliament to become prime minister, according to Politico.
President Klaus Iohannis had tapped Ciucă, a former army general and member of the National Liberal Party (PNL), to put together a government just over a week ago.
Ciucă told local media Monday night that “the mathematical reality” of PNL’s intent to create a minority government without other parties meant he could not muster enough support in parliament.
“The executive political bureau [of the PNL] decided to withdraw the mandate, which is why I will give it up. I have the conviction that all the activities taking place at the level of the political parties should be based on dialogue and the understanding of the situation the country is going through at the moment,” stated Ciucă.
Iohannis will now have to try for a third time to find a prime minister nominee, meaning continued political uncertainty for the country after the prior center-right coalition under PNL leader Florin Cîțu collapsed in September. The president is expected to hold talks with political parties in the coming days.
Cîțu, who is still serving as prime minister in a caretaker role, said in a statement to media alongside Ciucă that instead of seeking a minority government again, the party will now draft a more “flexible” mandate to form a coalition.
Ciucă could technically be nominated again since he was not formally rejected by parliament, according to PNL insiders, who added that no decision has yet been made about who the party might put forth next.