Romanian President Assigns New Govt to Intelligence Chief

Romania`s PМ-designate Mihai Razvan Ungureanu (L), head of Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), and Romanian President Traian Basescu (R) speak to the media at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. EPA/BGNES

Romania's President Traian Basescu announced late on Monday he had asked Romanian foreign intelligence service head Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu to form a new government and seek parliament's vote of confidence.

The nomination came after earlier on Monday Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc resigned following angry protests by thousands of Romanians who have risen up against sharp austerity measures for weeks.

Ungureanu, a 43-year-old historian and former foreign minister, has ten days to form a cabinet and draft a governing program.

He is then to ask the Romanian Parliament for a vote of confidence. International commentators have been quick to note that Ungureanu has a good chance to secure a confidence vote from the governing centrist coalition that controls the functioning parliament majority.

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