Four pro-European parties in Romania formed a coalition to prevent the far right from gaining power and selected a common candidate for the upcoming presidential election. The new government coalition chose Crin Antonescu to run in the presidential election.
Marcel Ciolacu, leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party, was appointed prime minister by liberal President Klaus Iohannis, who supported the new coalition. Ciolacu acknowledged that leading the country would not be easy after the electoral chaos, with far-right parties achieving unprecedented success in the parliamentary elections.
The coalition agreement brings together the Social Democrats (PSD), the largest party with 22% support, with the Liberals of PNL, the Hungarian minority UDMR, and a parliamentary group representing other minorities. However, they face a tough challenge in the upcoming presidential polls as the far right capitalizes on discontent with inflation and fears of war in Ukraine.
The nationalist far-right bloc tripled its score from the 2020 parliamentary elections, reaching 32%, led by AUR with 18%. The country has been in crisis since the presidential elections were canceled in early December, following surprising victories by far-right candidate Calin Georgescu in the first round amid allegations of Russian interference.