(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, DEC 8 - Romania's liberal Prime Minister Ludovic Orban resigned Monday after a disappointing showing for his pro-European National Liberal Party (PNL) in elections on Sunday -- but the PNL still seems to be on track to lead the next government at the head of a centre-right coalition. Orban said in a televised statement that his resignation had "a defined purpose: enabling the start of talks on the formation of the next government". Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca has been named interim prime minister.

Analysts see Orban as taking the rap for the fact that the PNL came in second on 25 percent compared to 30 percent for the left-wing opposition Social Democrat Party (PSD). The PSD has dominated Romanian politics since the collapse of communism but its last spell in government was overshadowed by street protests and clashes with the European Union and President Klaus Iohannis over judicial reforms. (ANSA-AFP).