BUCHAREST, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan of the National Liberal Party (PNL) on Thursday unveiled new cabinet candidates during a live press conference after the Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew all its ministers from the government.
In a move aimed at forcing Bolojan to resign, seven PSD officials, including the deputy prime minister and six ministers, submitted their resignations Thursday afternoon. Their departure has caused the government to lose its parliamentary majority, reducing it to a minority administration.
During the press conference, Bolojan signaled his refusal to step down by naming new ministers and vowing they would assume their duties by Monday at the latest.
In a statement posted on social media, the PSD said Bolojan no longer has parliamentary majority support and has therefore "lost the democratic legitimacy to lead the Romanian government." The party also said it is ready to join a new pro-European government and support "either a political or technocratic prime minister." ■