Bucharest, 5 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu tendered his resignation on Monday in the wake of Sunday's re-run of the country's presidential election.

Ciolacu, a Social Democrat, told reporters he was quitting as his government's candidate, Crin Antonescu, failed to advance to the run-off vote on May 18.

That run-off will see far-right frontrunner George Simion face conservative liberal Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan.

With Ciolacu's resignation, the coalition of Ciolacu's Social Democrats, the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL) and the UDMR/RMDSZ party representing the country's Hungarian minority has effectively collapsed.

Who will succeed Ciolacu as prime minister was initially unclear.

The Social Democratic ministers will remain in office for the time being, however.

According to media reports, the coalition partners could not agree on which candidate to support in the final round of the presidential election. Dan can no longer count on Ciolacu's support.

In the initial presidential election in November, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu won the first round, having campaigned largely on the online platform TikTok.

However, shortly before the scheduled run-off vote, the Constitutional Court annulled the first round due to irregularities in campaign financing.

Georgescu was also banned from running for president again and has been under investigation by the public prosecutor's office since February for making false statements about his campaign financing.

There are fears of a shift to the right in Romania, an EU and NATO member state. Simion says his aim is to ensure "justice" for Georgescu if he wins the election. He has not ruled out helping Georgescu into the office of prime minister.

Photo: epa