BNR economist picked as PM after government kicked out

Although the Sibiu mayor, Klaus Johannis, was the National Liberal Party (PNL) nomination for PM, Romanian president Traian Basescu decided to nominate economist Lucian Croitoru, counselor of the Romanian Central Bank (BNR) governor, Mugur Isarescu. At first, the PNL was planning to propose a government of technocrats, but Croitoru said he would meet the political parties and decide upon the structure of the new line-up. The vote of no confidence had been initiated by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Magyar Democratic Union in Romania (UDMR) and was supported by MPs from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), who recently withdrew their ministers from the government. Before the motion was passed, the Romanian administration consisted of 11 ministers, all from the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL). The existing ministers will act as interim cabinet until the new line-up is in place. The recent change, which flags up the political instability in the country, will not interfere with the stand-by agreement that Romania has with the International Monetary Fund. Fund representatives have said they will pay another visit to Romania once the new government is established. Commentators believe that the nomination of economist Lucian Croitoru to form the new cabinet gives hope that, at least in theory, the new government will focus on solving Romania's economic problems rather than continue the political bickering. Croitoru's soon to be established ministerial team has to pass a parliamentary vote.
Corina Saceanu