Romania's pro-European premier Marcel Ciolacu was reappointed prime minister on Monday, December 23, after striking a coalition deal to keep out the far right. "I designate Marcel Ciolacu as prime minister," said outgoing liberal president Klaus Iohannis. "I wish him great success for the new pro-European coalition" which intends to present a single candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
After deliberations with Romania's political parties, Iohannis nominated Ciolacu of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD). The party topped the polls in a December 1 parliamentary election. Ciolacu has served as prime minister since June last year. His nomination is widely seen as a tactical push to shut out far-right nationalists who made significant gains in parliament, revealing widespread anti-establishment sentiment.
"It will not be an easy mandate for the future government," Ciolacu said in a statement Monday. "We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis. It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people." The president's nomination still needs to be approved by lawmakers.
The parliamentary elections came on the heels of a presidential vote in which the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu won the first round. Ciolacu came third. Georgescu's surprise success plunged Romania into turmoil as allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged.