Romanian PM Ludovic Orban resigns after election setback

Romania's Prime Minister Orban (C) alongside other PNL officials. /Andreea Alexandru/AP

Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban has resigned following a setback from Sunday's elections, the AFP reports.

Orban had initially claimed victory in the country's parliamentary election, after the much tighter race than was predicted. His pro-Europe National Liberal Party (PNL) was confident about remaining in power through an alliance with at least one smaller party.

Romania's opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) however gained a better-than-expected result in an election marred by a record low turnout.

More than 18 million Romanians were eligible to take part in the vote, carried out with the now familiar virus safety measures of social distancing, mask wearing and hand hygiene.

But broad disillusion with Romania's political class along with a harsh second wave of COVID-19 depressed turnout, which stood at around 33 percent, a record low for a parliamentary election.

Orban has served as Romania's Prime Minister since October 2019.

(With input from Reuters)