Marcel Ciolacu has been designated as the next prime minister of Romania in a power swap deal, replacing Nicolae Ciuca of the National Liberal Party.

The leader of the Social Democratic Party, Ciolacu currently holds the chairmanship of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house in Romania’s parliament.

“I want the future Government of Romania to be about economy and reforms. I fully commit to the fact that Romania needs these reforms and the National Recovery and Resilience Program. Romania belongs in the European Union and NATO. No matter how much some try to take Romania in another direction, Romania’s path is safe and with political stability. It becomes a certainty”, declared Ciolacu.

Ciolacu’s premiership is yet to be formally approved by the Romanian legislature.