Romania's Social Democrats propose their own leader as prime minister in bid to avert snap election


Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu walks after a no-confidence motion in Bucharest, Romania, June 21, 2017. Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via REUTERS

BUCHAREST, June 24 (Reuters) - ⁠Romania's leftist Social Democrats, parliament's largest ⁠party, said on Wednesday they would back ‌their own party leader Sorin Grindeanu for prime minister, as parties try to agree a new government after ​a pro-European coalition collapsed last ⁠month.

The Social Democrats ⁠triggered the political crisis in early May by ⁠quitting the ‌coalition and teaming up with the far right opposition to topple ⁠Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.

The three other ​parties in ‌the outgoing coalition say they will not ⁠govern with ​the Social Democrats again. But that leaves no group with enough seats in parliament to ⁠form a majority.

A liberal candidate ​tapped by the president to form a government failed to win enough support, and if another ⁠candidate is selected and fails, new parliamentary elections must be held.

The pro-European parties have said they aim to reach an agreement on ​forming a minority government ⁠to avert a snap election, but have not ​agreed yet whether it will ‌be formed by the ​Social Democrats or by the centre right.

(Reporting by Luiza IlieEditing by Peter Graff)

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