Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu has resigned after the first round of the presidential elections, which saw the ruling coalition's candidate rank third and failing to qualify for the second round. The outcome is seen as a vote against the established political parties which make up the current governing coalition.

George Simion, the leader of the nationalist party AUR (Alliance for Romanians’ Union) and the sole candidate of the sovereign movement in Romania, won the first round of the presidential elections with a score of over 40%.

Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, who ran as an independent but with informal support from the reformist parties in Romania, came in second, with 21% of the votes, ahead of the ruling coalition’s candidate, Crin Antonescu, who ranked third. 

Ciolacu argued the coalition is “no longer legitimate as long as it didn’t send its own candidate to the second round.” The president to be elected on May 18 will decide with the parties able to create a majority in Parliament who will govern and who will be the prime minister, he explained. 

Ciolacu's Social Democrat Party (PSD) decided it would not publicly support any of the candidates who qualified for the presidential run-off.

Meanwhile, the National Liberal Party (PNL) decided to support  Nicusor Dan.

The PSD leadership unanimously decided in its National Council meeting to withdraw from the governing coalition, Hotnews.ro reported.

The PSD minister will stay on as interim ones in the government. The provisional period can last up to 45 days, after which a new government needs to be established.

Ciolacu was PSD’s candidate for president last year. He failed to make it to the second round, having finished third. He announced then his resignation from the PSD leadership, but eventually stayed on after receiving a vote of confidence from the party leadership.  

(Photo: Malina Norocea/ Inquam Photos)

simona@romania-insider.com