Romania appoints interim PM after coalition’s defeat in presidential race

Romanian interior minister Catalin Predoiu speaks to the media at the European Council building in Brussels (Omar Havana/AP)

Romania’s interim president has appointed a new prime minister a day after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition’s candidate to make the runoff in a rerun of the presidential election.

Ilie Bolojan signed a decree to appoint the serving interior minister, Catalin Predoiu of the National Liberal Party, to helm the government until a new one can be formed.