Romanian President Nominates Former EU Commissioner as new PM

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis nominated Dacian Ciolos as the Prime Minister-designate entrusted with forming the country's next government.

Ciolos served as Romania's Agriculture Minister between 2007 and 2008 and after that was nominated as Agriculture Commissioner by then European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, a position he held between 2010 and 2014.

Iohannis announced the nomination after the second round of negotiations with political parties on Tuesday, AGERPRES news agency informs.

The Romanian president highlighted that the solution of the current political crisis lies in a technocrats' government.

Iohannis noted the need for parties without corrupted people and called for the holding of fair local and general elections next year.

According to him, there is need to enhance the rule of law in the country and keep Romania firmly on the European and Euro-Atlantic path of development.

Romania has been seized by large-scale protests after an explosion and fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest on October 30 claimed the lives of 48 people and left hundreds injured.

Protesters, who initially demanded the resignation of the government and local authorities, have continued to express their discontent even after Prime Minister Victor Ponta submitted his resignation last week.