Catalin Predoiu, the incumbent home affairs minister, on Tuesday morning was named Romania’s caretaker prime minister after Marcel Ciolacu one day previously stepped down as prime minister.

„In accordance with the constitutional provisions, the interim President of Romania took note of the resignation of Mr Marcel Ciolacu and signed the decree stating the vacancy of the position of Prime Minister of the Romanian government. At the same time, Bolojan signed a decree naming Catalin Predoiu Romania’s caretaker prime minister fulfilling the official duties pending the formation of a new government,” the Presidential Administration informed in a press release on Tuesday.

On Monday, Marcel Ciolacu submitted his resignation as prime minister.

Under Article 106 of the Romanian Constitution, „Membership of the Government shall cease upon resignation, dismissal, disenfranchisement, incompatibility, death, or in any other cases provided by law.”

Article 107 (3) of the Constitution says: „If the Prime Minister finds himself in one of the situations stipulated under Article 106, except for him being dismissed, or if it is impossible for him to exercise his powers, the President of Romania shall designate another member of the Government as Acting Prime Minister, in order to carry out the powers of the Prime Minister, until a new Government is formed. The interim, during the Prime Minister’s impossibility to exercise the powers of the said office, shall cease if the Prime Minister resumes his activity within the Government.”

„Provisions under paragraph (3) shall apply accordingly to the other members of the Government, on proposal by the Prime Minister, for a period of 45 days, at the most.’

AGERPRES