Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu does not believe that President Klaus Iohannis would be interested in being the prime minister after this year’s parliamentary election.

Ciolacu was asked in Oradea if he would nominate Iohannis for the position of prime minister if he wins the presidential election.

„I don’t think the President is interested in such a position,” Ciolacu told a news conference at the Oradea Prefect’s Office.

Asked what he thinks about the fact that the national leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Nicolae Ciuca said that if he wins the presidential elections, he would not pick him the prime minister, Ciolacu replied: „It’s normal, because he won’t win.”

According to Ciolacu, Romanians, through their vote, are the ones who decide who will be the next prime minister. He said that after the parliamentary election a governing coalition will be formed, as no party will garner 50% of the votes.

„I believe that the next few years, at least four years, will be the most important years to Romania and there will be the greatest growth in development and economy. And I am truly firmly convinced this time that no party will have 50%. A governing coalition will be formed. The coalition will depend on the vote of Romanians, on how much each party garners. And I said very clearly that, if the Romanians decide to pick me for President of Romania, I think it is right that the other political party that will form the coalition together with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) should give the prime minister.”

PNL’s Ciuca said on Wednesday that if he wins the presidential election, he would not appoint Ciolacu as prime minister as the latter supports progressive taxation, and Romania is not ready. He also said that the PNL has five names of possible prime ministers from within the party.

AGERPRES