Romanian PM to resign this week if teachers end strike

Romania's prime minister Nicolae Ciuca will resign by the end f this week to open the door for the "rotation" of the ruling parties if the strike in education ends, sources familiar with the developments told G4Media.ro.

Both the Social Democrats (PSD) and the Liberals (PNL) expect the strike to end quickly. Otherwise, the rotation should take place by the end of the parliament's session at the end of June.

The new prime minister, most probably PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu, would take over as of June 14 or June 15. He already announced plans with a focus on curbing inflation (in the short term) as well as industrialisation and better-paid wages ("economic patriotism" in the longer term). The special pension reform has to be settled as well.

One detail yet to be agreed upon is whether the third partner in the ruling coalition, the ethnic Hungarian party UDMR, accepts the tighter conditions set by the senior parties (fewer ministers) or pulls out.

PM Ciuca was supposed to resign on May 26, but the teachers' strike and protests in Bucharest and other major cities in the country prompted President Klaus Iohannis to postpone the so-called "rotation" of the parties at rule during negotiations with the trade unions.

(Photo source: Gov.ro)