Romanian President Traian Basescu has named foreign intelligence chief Mihai Razvan Ungureanu as the new prime minister-designate.
The move comes after the previous premier, Emil Boc,
resigned from the post in order to "ease the social situation" in the country after weeks of antiausterity protests against drastic cutbacks imposed by his government.
Boc said his government made unpopular but necessary decisions in order to save Romania's economy amid a European Union-wide financial crisis.
He added that due to the measures taken by his government, Romania in 2011 had one the highest rates of economic growth in the 27-member EU.
Ungureanu now has 10 days to form a government and obtain parliament's approval.
Compiled from agency reports