Romanian President Appoints First Woman PM

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday agreed to appoint Social Democrat MEP Viorica Dancila as the country's first ever woman prime minister.

Dancila, 55, was nominated by the ruling Social Democrat Party on Tuesday to head Romania's third cabinet in the last year.

Her predecessor, former PM Mihai Tudose, handed in his resignation after losing the backing of his own party after he came into conflict with the Social Democrats' leadership.

Iohannis said Wednesday that he accepted the ruling party's proposal to sack Tudose and replace him with Dancila as a way to maintain stability in the country.  He also said he is cognizant of the fact that the Social Democrats hold a majority in the Parliament and the opposition would have a hard time forming a cabinet.

"I invite all those involved in the procedures to mobilize their resources and get to work fast. It's possible that by February 1 the whole procedure will be finalized and the new cabinet needs to get to work and solve problems, not cause them," Iohannis said.

Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea announced Wednesday evening that the Parliament would convene on January 29 for a confidence vote.

Romania's interim cabinet will be headed by Defence Minister Mihai Fifor.