The name of a new prime minister of Romania may be announced on Thursday as President Traian Basescu is expected to make a decision following prolonged talks with political parties, in the wake of Emil Boc Government's collapse on Tuesday. Boc's Democratic Liberals have sent their president their own nomination on Thursday, it emerged in the morning. Meanwhile, Social Democrats, Liberals and Hungarian Democrats have announced they retain their support for their own candidate.

The three parties announced they jointly support Klaus Johannis, mayor of Sibiu city, depicted as an independent and a technocrat. But on Wednesday President Basescu said he would rather have a political prime minister and suggested he might choose a Democratic Liberal for the job.

The three parties said they would not drop Johannis despite Basescu's caution.

Several names have been circulated for prime minister, including ex-Justice minister Monica Macovei, national bank official Lucian Croitoru, Mihai Tanasescu and Alexandrina Gatej, a former Unilever boss turned presidential aide.