After PNL leader Crin Antonescu (in picture) resigned from the helm of the Romania’s Senate on Wednesday (March 4), Cristian Dumitrescu form the Social Democratic Party PSD, currently vice-president of the Senate, will take over as interim. He will occupy this position until a new president is named.

According to sources quoted by the local media, former Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu is one of the favorites for this position.

Tariceanu resigned from the National Liberal Party PNL on February 26, the day after the party decided to withdraw from the ruling coalition the Social Liberal Union, and from the Government.

He is one of the founders of the National Liberal Party in 1990, so his decision to leave comes after 24 years of activity within the PNL.

Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, who was the Prime Minister between 2004 and 2008 and the leader of PNL between 2005 and 2009, but who did not hold any position in the union Government, said the PNL should have not withdrawn from the ruling alliance.

Crin Antonescu, who also wants to run for presidency this year, announced his resignation from the helm of the Senate in the Parliament plenum, during the debates on the new Government team.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com