Romania's Liberal Party Leader Named As New Prime Minister

BUCHAREST -- Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has named the leader of the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) as the country's next prime minister.

Ludovic Orban has 10 days to form a cabinet and secure the support of the fragmented parliament after Iohannis asked him on October 15 to form a new government following consultations with parliamentary groups.

The move comes after the government led by the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) collapsed last week after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament.

The PNL will need the support of many opposition parties that toppled the PSD government to secure a majority in parliament.

Speaking at the nomination ceremony, Orban said his priorities would include correcting the "macroeconomic imbalances" in the country and prioritizing investments in transport, health, and education.

The 56-year-old former transport minister also vowed to ensure the independence of the judiciary and to restore "competence" in the administration.

Iohannis said a new government "needs to be urgently installed in order to fulfill some of the tasks that are pending."

The Romanian president cited the organization of the presidential election, whose first round is scheduled for November 10, and the drafting of the 2020 budget amid a recent explosion of public spending, among other things.

With reporting by Balkan Insight