Romania Chooses Left-Leaning Government

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http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/world/europe/romania-chooses-left-leaning-government.html?ribbon-ad-idx=2&rref=world/europe&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Europe&pgtype=article

>BUCHAREST, Romania — The Romanian Parliament approved a new left-leaning coalition government on Wednesday, ending weeks of uncertainty about who would lead a country that has been a staunch member of the European Union and NATO.

>Sorin Grindeanu, 43, a former minister of communications and a compromise candidate, was named prime minister. He beat his Social Democratic Party’s first choice, Sevil Shhaideh, a member of the country’s Tatar minority who would have become the country’s first female and first Muslim prime minister.

>The Social Democrats came to power in a national election on Dec. 11 on the promise of increasing government spending for health care, salaries and pensions. On Wednesday, Mr. Grindeanu said his government would raise the minimum wage and improve access to free prescription drugs. He also promised to create better-paying jobs so that Romanians would not seek work abroad.

>The president, Klaus Iohannis, swore in the new cabinet and urged its members to strengthen the country’s judiciary and shore up its foreign relations.

>“You have to deliver what you promised in the electoral campaign,” he told the cabinet members. “I expect that you keep clear, visible and declared the Euro-Atlantic orientation of Romania. You swore that you would do everything you can for a mature democracy in Romania. We cannot imagine in Europe a democracy without an independent justice and the rule of law.”

>The selection of a prime minister was thrown into confusion last week when Ms. Shhaideh was rejected for the post by Mr. Iohannis, apparently because of her Syrian-born husband’s support for the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Ms. Shhaideh was instead named deputy prime minister and minister of regional development.
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