Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has resigned after the candidate supported by his pro-Western coalition failed to advance to the second round of the presidential election.
He said his center-left Socialists would withdraw from the coalition, while ministers would remain in their posts in an interim capacity until a new majority is formed after the second round of the presidential election.
The leader of the opposition Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, Gheorghe Simion, won the most votes in the first round of the presidential election, with 41 percent, the Central Election Commission said.
Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan came in second with 21 percent, while the ruling coalition’s candidate, Crin Antonescu, came in third with 20.1 percent.
