Romanian PM Ciolacu and party quit government after nationalist vote win

Marcel Ciolacu told his colleagues their government had no credibility after presidential elections.

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George Simion, a eurosceptic who has promised to put Romania first, won 40.9% of Sunday's vote and is expected to win a run-off vote on 18 May.

He will face liberal Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, who narrowly defeated the Social Democrat (PSD) candidate.

Sunday's result plunged Romania - an EU state on Nato's eastern flank - into further political turmoil. Ciolacu told colleagues that as their coalition had failed to meet its objective and "has no legitimacy", they should pull out of the government.

Ciolacu, 57, only came to power in a pro-EU coalition after elections in 2024, although George Simion's far-right party along with two other groupings had attracted a third of the vote.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3xk8prxy8o

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