Romanian president Traian Basescu has nominated current interim prime minister Emil Boc to form the new government, after having discussed with the main political parties yesterday. “I understand certain parties are still in political campaign, others have internal problems, so I find myself obliged to use a solution so that Romania has a government. This is why I have issued the decree naming Emil Boc prime minister,” Traian Basescu said earlier today, before leaving to a summit in Copenhagen.
He also said a new government should be in place by December 23 so that the country can draft and submit the 2010 budget, in order for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan instalement to come at the beginning of next year.
UPDATE (10:33)- Emil Boc, who is the head of the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), has been running the previous Democratic Liberal – Social Democratic government, but the government he was running has been given a vote of no confidence in the Parliament. The same government team has been acting as interim during the last couple of months. Previous to becoming prime minister, Emil Boc has been the mayor of Cluj – Napoca since 2004.
UPDATE (10:44) – Traian Basescu estimated the valuation document after the IMF mission early next year could be approved by the fund on February 12 or 15 and Romania could receive the third and fourth loan installments, EUR 1.5 billion and EUR 830 million respectively, on February 17. Out of the total EUR 2.3 billion, half will go to the Romanian Central Bank (BNR) and half to the Finance Minister to cover the budget deficit.