President Nicusor Dan concluded on Monday evening consultations with the political parties and formations represented in Parliament and is expected to announce the new nominee for the position of prime minister.

The Presidential Administration said the head of state will make a press statement at 9:00 p.m.

Under Article 85 of Romania's Constitution, the president designates a candidate for the office of prime minister and appoints the government on the basis of a vote of confidence granted by Parliament.

Article 103 of the Constitution stipulates that:

'(1) The President of Romania designates a candidate for prime minister following consultations with the party holding an absolute majority in Parliament or, if no such majority exists, with the parties represented in Parliament;

(2) The prime minister-designate must, within 10 days of nomination, seek Parliament's vote of confidence on both the government programme and the full list of cabinet members;

(3) The government programme and cabinet list are debated in a joint sitting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with Parliament granting confidence through a majority vote of deputies and senators.'

This would be the fourth nomination in exactly five months, after the government led by Ilie Bolojan was toppled by a no-confidence motion on May 5. Eugen Tomac was first tasked with forming a new government but resigned his mandate after failing to secure a parliamentary majority. Subsequent nominees Adrian Vestea and Siegfried Muresan were both rejected in confidence votes in Parliament.AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Andreea Rotaru; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)