BRUSSELS – The liberals in the European Parliament have elected former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to head their faction.
On June 19, Ciolos, who heads of the opposition party PLUS in Romania, defeated Sophie in 't Veld of the Netherlands 65-to-41.
Renew Europe is the third-largest political force in parliament after winning 106 seats following last month’s European general elections.
The liberal grouping changed its name from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) after lawmakers from French President Emmanuel Macron's La Republique en Marche party joined.
The liberal grouping, which recently changed its name from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) to Renew Europe, is the third-largest political force in the European Parliament after winning 106 seats following last month’s European general elections.
Ciolos, 49, is the first Romanian national heading a political group in the chamber.
He was prime minister in Romania from 2015 to 2017 and served as the agriculture commissioner in 2010-2014.
