PSD leader Mircea Geoana chosen new speaker of Romania Senate

The president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) was chosen speaker of the Romanian Senate for the 2008-2012 legislature on Friday. Geoana was elected with 96 votes in favor and 35 against as he was the only one to run for the seat. Deputies and senators chosen in the November 30 general elections convened for the first time on Friday for the oath and were already electing the new management of the House.

According to a protocol signed by the two parties now negotiating the formation of a new government, the PSD and the Democratic Liberals (PD-L), the speaker of the Senate must be a PSD member, while PD-L claims the seat of House speaker. The PD-L proposal for the House is Roberta Anastase, a former member of the European Parliament.