(Bloomberg) -- Romania's Liberal Party pushed ahead with its attempt to win approval for a minority government, despite a lack of enthusiasm from opponents that looks set to prolong the political turmoil gripping the country.
Rejections from the Social Democrats -- the main opposition party, and USR Plus -- part of the previous Liberal-led ruling coalition, didn't stop Prime Minister Designate Nicolae Ciuca unveiling his cabinet lineup on Friday.
Ciuca and Liberal leader Florin Citu plan talks with individual lawmakers to muster support for the cabinet at a vote that may take place on Nov. 3. The move is a bid to end two months of squabbling that's hampering efforts to tackle the deadliest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and has sent the national currency to a record low.
Ciuca hopes the health crisis and soaring European energy costs will persuade legislators that a real government is needed to replace the current caretaker administration. He said his cabinet could even be just a “temporary” solution.
“After voting in this government so we can implement the needed measures, all the parties can sit down and try to find some common ground for solving this political crisis,” Ciuca said Friday.
Snap Election?
Failure to agree on a new government raises the chances of early elections. Under Romania's constitution, President Klaus Iohannis can call a snap ballot if two proposed governments are rebuffed by parliament, though he's not obliged to do so.
While Ciuca's attempt is the second after a USR-led cabinet was unsuccessful, the Social Democrats don't seem worried by the risk of voters being asked to resolve the crisis.
“The country doesn't need a minority government as it's fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and a surge in energy prices,” party leader Marcel Ciolacu said Friday.
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