(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 16 GEN - Romania's President Klaus Iohannis named Social Democrat Defence Minister Mihai Fifor as interim prime minister, to replace outgoing Mihai Tudose who resigned after losing the support of his party. Iohannis told reporters he wanted a "swift procedure to form a new government to avert political uncertainty and harm to the economy". Tudose resigned Monday after his party withdrew its support for him amid a power struggle with the party chairman Liviu Dragnea. Tudose said he was quitting after a little more than six months in office "with my head high".

Tudose is the second prime minister ousted by the Social Democrats since they won Romania's December 2016 general election: the party ousted its previous PM, Sorin Grindeanu, in June with a vote of no-confidence.

Dragnea is ineligible to serve as prime minister due to a conviction for vote-rigging. Separately, prosecutors froze Dragnea's assets in November as part of a probe of alleged misuse of European Union funds. He denies wrongdoing. (ANSA).