Romania's PM-designate fails to win parliament confidence

FILE PHOTO: Dacian Ciolos, leader of the USR party, attends a news conference at the headquarters of the USR PLUS alliance, in Bucharest, Romania, September 23, 2021. Inquam Photos/George Calin via REUTERS

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Romania's designated Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos failed to win a parliamentary vote of confidence for his centrist minority cabinet on Wednesday, extending a political stalemate at a time of rising COVID-19 infections.

Romania, one of the European Union's poorest states, has been in political paralysis since a liberal-led cabinet was toppled by parliament on Oct. 5, threatening the economic recovery from the pandemic and efforts to cut twin deficits at a time of rising energy prices.