Romania forms new pro-European coalition government amid political crisis

NEWS WIRES

23 December 2024 at 9:01 pm·1-min read

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis (R) and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu (L) stand after the swearing-in ceremony at the Romanian Presidency headquarters, Bucharest, Romania, December 23, 2024.

Romanian lawmakers narrowly approved a new pro-European coalition government on Monday, led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move seeks to end a political crisis sparked by far-right gains in recent elections and the annulment of the presidential race.

Romanian lawmakers on Monday voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

The move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania's 466-seat legislature.

The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, or PSD, the center-right National Liberal Party, PNL, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. It caps a month-long period of turmoil in which far-right nationalists made significant gains in a Dec. 1 parliamentary election, a week after a first-round presidential race saw the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerge as the front-runner.

“It will not be an easy mandate for the future government,” Ciolacu, whose PSD party topped the polls in the parliamentary election, said in a statement Monday.

(AP)

Australian Associated Press
Sixers' Jordan Silk eyes all-Sydney Big Bash final
Sydney Sixers' fan favourite Jordan Silk is hopeful of facing cross-town rivals the Thunder in the Big Bash League final.
Australian Associated Press
Doctors baulking at $3k a day to plug mental health gap
Patients in mental distress will face tele-consults as NSW Health scrambles to lessen the impact of two in three public psychiatrists resigning.
Australian Associated Press
Murphy ready to step up if Kuhnemann misses Sri Lanka
Australia officials are still assessing if Matthew Kuhnemann will be available for the Test tour of Sri Lanka after he injured his thumb playing in the BBL.
Australian Associated Press
'Reinvented' Scrivener leads Aussie challenge in Dubai
Jason Scrivener, Min Woo Lee and David Micheluzzi are well-placed at halfway in the Dubai Desert Classic, leading a strong Australian challenge.
Australian Associated Press
US Supreme Court upholds Congress law banning TikTok
The US Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a federal law banning TikTok unless it is sold by its China-based parent company ByteDance.
Australian Associated Press
Home sweet home for Wildcats in Perth NBL return
Back home for the first time in 42 days, the Perth Wildcats have roared to a seven-point win over the Adelaide 36ers in front of the biggest crowd this season.
Australian Associated Press
Gauff continues charge through Australian Open draw
Third seed Coco Gauff has continued her march through the Australian Open draw after Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic quietly also advanced to the last 16.
Australian Associated Press
Hot-headed Djokovic overcomes drama to roll on at Open
Novak Djokovic has advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open for a 17th time to remain on track for an 11th Melbourne Park crown and 25th grand slam title.
Australian Associated Press
Shakeel & Rizwan lead Pakistan revival against WIndies
Fifties from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan have helped Pakistan battle back to finish the fog-hit opening day of the first Test against West Indies on 4-143.
Australian Associated Press
Korean investigators apply to extend Yoon's detention
South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol says he is well but a little uncomfortable as investigators file a request to extend his detention.
Australian Associated Press
Mariners rise to see off Wanderers in 3-1 ALM win
The Central Coast Mariners have punished an error-prone Western Sydney Wanderers in a 3-1 A-League Men win.
Australian Associated Press
Cairns trounce Brisbane by 31 in NBL
Rob Edwards poured in 35 points as the Cairns Taipans thumped the Bullets by 31 points in Brisbane.
Australian Associated Press
United hope City ALW draw is 'a line in the sand'
Gun strikers Kahli Johnson and Holly McNamara traded goals as Western United and Melbourne City fought out a 1-1 A-League Women draw.
Australian Associated Press
Wild weather wrecks SCG roofing, gifts Hobart top spot
Rain has washed out the hotly-anticipated clash between BBL rivals the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, gifting the Hobart Hurricanes top spot on the ladder.
Australian Associated Press
Biden commutes sentences for 2500 drug offenders
US President Joe Biden has issued more individual pardons and commutations than any predecessor after commuting the sentences of another 2500 people.
Australian Associated Press
'You can beat anyone', Alcaraz's advice to young guns
Breakout performances from Learner Tien and Joao Fonseca have caught the eye of Carlos Alcaraz as the world No.3 cruised into the Australian Open fourth round.
Australian Associated Press
Sanders becomes second Aussie rider to win Dakar Rally
Australian motorcyclist Daniel 'Chucky' Sanders has become only the second Australian to win at the celebrated Dakar Rally in its 47 editions.
Australian Associated Press
Israel set to approve ceasefire: Netanyahu's office
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says the country's cabinet will meet shortly to give final approval for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Australian Associated Press
Russia jails Navalny lawyers for extremist activity
Three lawyers accused of helping late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to run illegal activity from prison have been jailed.
Australian Associated Press
United star Botic shouldn't rush overseas: Aloisi
Young striker Noah Botic has scored twice to lead Western United to a 3-1 win over Newcastle, and coach John Aloisi hopes he stays in the A-League Men.

Latest stories