Parliament today rejected a proposal that Dacian Cioloș form a USR (Save Romania Union) government and become Romania’s next prime minister.

Cioloș had the support of 88 lawmakers, most of whom were from his own party, the third-largest in parliament. He needed 234 votes.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) and USR’s former coalition partners of the liberal PNL had said they wouldn’t support Cioloș as soon as he was nominated last week by President Iohannis.

“Our party was the only one who wanted to take responsibility, to govern in these tough times”, Cioloș told legislators. “We aimed to solve this current health crisis.”

It is now up to President Klaus Iohannis to nominate a new candidate prime minister. Should Iohannis’ second nomination also fail to win Parliament’s backing, the President can dissolve the legislature and call an early election.