Social Democratic party leader Ciolacu is Romania’s new prime minister. Parliament elected him with a large majority. As agreed, he replaces Nicolae Ciuca from the conservative coalition partner PNL.
The parliament in Bucharest has elected a new prime minister with a large majority: Romania’s new head of government is now the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Marcel Ciolacu.
With the election, he replaces Nicolae Ciuca from the conservative PNL party. Ciuca had resigned because of an agreement with the PSD. The Hungarian party UDMR is no longer part of the government. Since 1996 she had co-ruled most of the cabinets in Bucharest.
Ciolacu wants to promote local industry
In his inaugural speech in Parliament, Ciolacu promised a policy of “patriotism in business” by promoting local industry. Romania’s accession to the border-free Schengen zone, which the EU has had to postpone several times due to a lack of unanimity among the EU states, is also a priority.
The Hungarian party UDMR sharply criticized her expulsion from the coalition. “Yes, I admit we are upset,” said UDMR chief Hunor Kelemen. The process was “a willful execution of a credible, balanced and responsible partner”.
Next election 2024
The election took place halfway through the current legislative period. The PSD and PNL grand coalition parties, which were almost equally strong, had already decided that when they formed the government after the last parliamentary elections in December 2020. The next regular parliamentary elections are scheduled for autumn 2024.