Latest news with #CatalinPredoiu
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Romania names interim premier as turmoil intensifies
Catalin Predoiu is a former justice minister who previously served as interim premier in 2012. (AP pic) BUCHAREST : Romania's liberal interior minister Catalin Predoiu became interim premier today, the presidency announced, a day after the prime minister's resignation deepened political tumult in the EU nation. Romania's pro-EU prime minister Marcel Ciolacu stepped down yesterday after a far-right candidate topped the first round of a tense presidential vote rerun. Far-right EU critic George Simion topped Sunday's election first round, while the ruling coalition's candidate narrowly lost out to Bucharest's mayor for the second spot. Ciolacu's resignation comes just two weeks ahead of the presidential vote runoff on May 18 in the EU and Nato member, which has gained in strategic importance since Russia invaded Ukraine, neighbouring Romania. Ciolacu said his Social Democrats (PSD) party would leave the ruling coalition but they are expected to remain in the government on an interim basis until after the election run-off. Predoiu, 56, is a former justice minister who already served as interim premier in 2012. Predoiu, who practiced as a lawyer in the past, is also the current interim president of the liberals (PNL). He told reporters yesterday that the liberals have 'sworn-in ministers in the government, they will carry out their duties'. 'As long as these mandates are in office, the PNL does its duty,' he said. Closely watched rerun In Sunday's first round, Simion, who leads the nationalist AUR party, gained almost 41% of votes, double the score of the pro-EU mayor Nicusor Dan, an independent. A far-right victory in the second round – closely watched by Brussels and Washington – could mark a shift in the country's foreign policy. The president represents Romania at EU and Nato summits and can veto EU votes. He also appoints the premier and other government posts. Campaigning on a vow to put Romania first, Simion, a fan of US President Donald Trump, has criticised 'Brussels' unelected bureaucrats', accusing them of having meddled in the Romanian elections. In December, Romania's constitutional court in a shock move scrapped the presidential ballot after far-right politician Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round. The annulment followed allegations of Russian interference and a massive TikTok campaign that emerged in favour of Georgescu. Simion has called the annulment 'a coup d'etat'. Georgescu was barred from the rerun but two major far-right parties decided to back Simion instead.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Romania appoints an interim prime minister after the coalition's defeat in the presidential race
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania's interim president appointed a new prime minister on Tuesday, a day after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition's candidate to make the runoff in a rerun of the presidential election. Ilie Bolojan signed a decree to appoint the serving interior minister, Catalin Predoiu of the National Liberal Party, to take the helm of the government until a new one can be formed. The interim post can be held for a maximum of 45 days, during which they have limited executive powers. The shake-up comes after the coalition's candidate, Crin Antonescu, came third in Sunday's first round presidential vote, far behind the top finisher, hard-right nationalist George Simion, and pro-Western reformist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. FILE - Romanian Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu speaks to the media at the European Council building in Brussels, Dec 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, File) After Predoiu took office on Tuesday, the 56-year-old veteran politician said that Romania 'must remain a resilient democracy, a country whose development objectives remain anchored in Euro-Atlantic values.' Romania held the rerun months after a top court annulled the previous race, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied. The unprecedented decision plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades. Sunday's vote underscored strong anti-establishment sentiment among voters, and signaled a power shift away from traditional mainstream parties. It also renewed the political uncertainty that has gripped the European Union and NATO member country. Ciolacu, who came third in last year's voided presidential race, told reporters Monday outside the headquarters of his Social Democratic Party, or PSD, 'Rather than let the future president replace me, I decided to resign myself.' He added that one aim of forming the coalition last December — after the failed election — was to field a common candidate to win the presidency. After Sunday's result, he said that the coalition now 'lacks any credibility.' It is made up of the leftist PSD, the center-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. Sunday's vote was the second time in Romania's post-communist history, including the voided election cycle, that the PSD party didn't have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race. As in many EU countries, anti-establishment sentiment is running high in Romania, fueled by high inflation, a large budget deficit and a sluggish economy. Observers say the malaise has bolstered support for nationalist and far-right figures like Calin Georgescu, who won the first round in the canceled presidential election. He is under investigation and barred from the rerun. Simion, the 38-year-old front-runner in Sunday's vote and the leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, will face Dan in a runoff on May 18 that could reshape the country's geopolitical direction. In 2019, Simion founded the AUR party, which rose to prominence in a 2020 parliamentary election by proclaiming to stand for 'family, nation, faith and freedom.' It has since become Romania's second-largest party in the legislature. Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party in 2016, ran on a pro-EU platform. He told the media early Monday that 'a difficult second round lies ahead, against an isolationist candidate.'
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Romania appoints interim PM after coalition's defeat in presidential race
Romania's interim president has appointed a new prime minister a day after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition's candidate to make the runoff in a rerun of the presidential election. Ilie Bolojan signed a decree to appoint the serving interior minister, Catalin Predoiu of the National Liberal Party, to helm the government until a new one can be formed. The interim post can be held for a maximum of 45 days, during which they have limited executive powers. A Romanian policeman holds effigies made of brooms of prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, right, and interior minister Catalin Predoiu, left, during a protest in Bucharest (Vadim Ghirda/AP) The shake-up comes after the coalition's candidate, Crin Antonescu, came third in Sunday's first round presidential vote, far behind top finisher hard-right nationalist George Simion and pro-Western reformist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan. After casting his ballot on Sunday, 56-year-old veteran politician Mr Predoiu said he voted for a presidency that 'will ensure balance, cooperation and dialogue in political life' and called it an 'important moment for the whole country'. Romania held the rerun months after a top court annulled the previous race following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied. The unprecedented decision plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades. Sunday's vote underscored strong anti-establishment sentiment among voters and signalled a power shift away from traditional mainstream parties. It also renewed the political uncertainty that has gripped the European Union and Nato member country. Mr Ciolacu, who came third in last year's voided presidential race, told reporters on Monday outside the headquarters of his Social Democratic Party, or PSD: 'Rather than let the future president replace me, I decided to resign myself.' He added that one aim of forming the coalition last December — after the failed election — was to field a common candidate to win the presidency. After Sunday's result, he said the coalition now 'lacks any credibility'. It is made up of the leftist PSD, the centre-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. Sunday's vote was the second time in Romania's post-communist history, including the voided election cycle, that the PSD party did not have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race. As in many EU countries, anti-establishment sentiment is running high in Romania, fuelled by high inflation, a large budget deficit and a sluggish economy. Observers say the malaise has bolstered support for nationalist and far-right figures like Calin Georgescu, who won the first round in the cancelled presidential election. He is under investigation and barred from the rerun. Mr Simion, the 38-year-old frontrunner in Sunday's vote and the leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, will face Mr Dan in a runoff on May 18 that could reshape the country's geopolitical direction. In 2019, Mr Simion founded the AUR party, which rose to prominence in a 2020 parliamentary election by proclaiming to stand for 'family, nation, faith and freedom'. It has since become Romania's second-largest party in the legislature. Mr Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party in 2016, ran on a pro-EU platform. He told the media early Monday that 'a difficult second round lies ahead, against an isolationist candidate'.
BreakingNews.ie
06-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Romania appoints interim PM after coalition's defeat in presidential race
Romania's interim president has appointed a new prime minister a day after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition's candidate to make the runoff in a rerun of the presidential election. Ilie Bolojan signed a decree to appoint the serving interior minister, Catalin Predoiu of the National Liberal Party, to helm the government until a new one can be formed. Advertisement The interim post can be held for a maximum of 45 days, during which they have limited executive powers. A Romanian policeman holds effigies made of brooms of prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, right, and interior minister Catalin Predoiu, left, during a protest in Bucharest (Vadim Ghirda/AP) The shake-up comes after the coalition's candidate, Crin Antonescu, came third in Sunday's first round presidential vote, far behind top finisher hard-right nationalist George Simion and pro-Western reformist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan. After casting his ballot on Sunday, 56-year-old veteran politician Mr Predoiu said he voted for a presidency that 'will ensure balance, cooperation and dialogue in political life' and called it an 'important moment for the whole country'. Romania held the rerun months after a top court annulled the previous race following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied. Advertisement The unprecedented decision plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades. Sunday's vote underscored strong anti-establishment sentiment among voters and signalled a power shift away from traditional mainstream parties. It also renewed the political uncertainty that has gripped the European Union and Nato member country. Mr Ciolacu, who came third in last year's voided presidential race, told reporters on Monday outside the headquarters of his Social Democratic Party, or PSD: 'Rather than let the future president replace me, I decided to resign myself.' Advertisement He added that one aim of forming the coalition last December — after the failed election — was to field a common candidate to win the presidency. After Sunday's result, he said the coalition now 'lacks any credibility'. It is made up of the leftist PSD, the centre-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. Sunday's vote was the second time in Romania's post-communist history, including the voided election cycle, that the PSD party did not have a candidate in the second round of a presidential race. Advertisement As in many EU countries, anti-establishment sentiment is running high in Romania, fuelled by high inflation, a large budget deficit and a sluggish economy. Observers say the malaise has bolstered support for nationalist and far-right figures like Calin Georgescu, who won the first round in the cancelled presidential election. He is under investigation and barred from the rerun. Mr Simion, the 38-year-old frontrunner in Sunday's vote and the leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, will face Mr Dan in a runoff on May 18 that could reshape the country's geopolitical direction. Advertisement In 2019, Mr Simion founded the AUR party, which rose to prominence in a 2020 parliamentary election by proclaiming to stand for 'family, nation, faith and freedom'. It has since become Romania's second-largest party in the legislature. Mr Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party in 2016, ran on a pro-EU platform. He told the media early Monday that 'a difficult second round lies ahead, against an isolationist candidate'.
