Romanian President Iohannis names Education minister as interim prime minister in wake of PM Ponta's resignation​

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis accepted PM Victor Ponta’s resignation on Wednesday and decided to name incumbent Education minister, Sorin Campeanu, as interim prime minister, he said on Thursday. Iohannis also announced that for the first time ever he planned to invite a new entity to political consultations over the formation of a new government – the civil society.

Iohannis made the decisions after PM Ponta announced he was stepping down on Wednesday, in wake of massive street protests fueled by public outrage over a Bucharest nightclub fire that killed dozens last Friday.

Iohannis did nos say who would represent the civil society at the consultations to be hosted by the Presidency.

On Wednesday, Ponta had said he supported Defense minister Mircea Dusa as interim prime minister, but Iohannis made another choice.