Romanian president 'optimistic' about prospects for pro-European majority government

Romania's outgoing President Klaus Iohannis said on Sunday he was "optimistic" he would soon designate a prime minister from a pro-European governing majority after the ruling Social Democrats returned to coalition talks.

Three votes to elect Romania's president and parliament descended into chaos when a little-known far-right pro-Russian politician won the first presidential round on Nov. 24, prompting Romania's top court to annul it on suspicion of Russian meddling. A re-run of the vote is likely in the first part of 2025.

The ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) won the most seats in a Dec. 1 parliamentary election in which three ultranationalist and hard-right groupings, some with overt pro-Russian sympathies, won more than a third of the seats.

"Negotiations continue today and I am optimistic that I will be in a position to designate a prime minister after parliament votes the leaders of its two chambers," Iohannis said.

The PSD, the centre-right Liberals, centrist Save Romania Union (USR), the ethnic Hungarian party UDMR and representatives of ethnic minorities agreed to negotiate a coalition government to keep the far right at bay, but clashed over measures needed to reduce Romania's budget deficit, the EU's largest.

The PSD abruptly withdrew on Thursday from coalition talks in a move some analysts said was a ploy to speed up negotiations. It has since rejoined talks – without the USR which will join the opposition.

"The PSD, PNL, UDMR and minorities have informed me that negotiations to find a solid government equation are near the end," Iohannis said after consultations with political parties. Iohannis' term expired on Dec. 21 but he will stay on until his replacement is elected.

The three ultranationalist parties declined to attend the talks.