ATHENS

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned Monday after far-right candidate George Simion won the first round of a re-run presidential election over the weekend while his own candidate crashed out of the race.

Interim President Ilie Bolojan accepted Ciolacu's resignation, said his office, adding that an interim prime minister will be appointed Tuesday.

Earlier, following a meeting of the political council of the Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD), of which he is president, Ciolacu announced that he had decided to step down, citing the defeat of Crin Antonescu, the candidate supported by the coalition government, local broadcaster Antena3 reported.

He said the results showed that the government had lost its credibility.

"Rather than let the future president replace me, I decided to resign myself," Ciolacu said.

He also announced that the PSD would not adopt any candidates for the second round of the election, which will be held on May 18.

Simion emerged victorious in the first round by a large margin, receiving more than 40.9% of the vote.

The 38-year-old is known for his controversial remarks reflecting his ultranationalist and Eurosceptic views.

He will face off against Nicusor Dan, the centrist mayor of the capital city of Bucharest, who came in second in the election with nearly 21%, on May 18.

On Nov. 24, Romania held the first round of its presidential election, which was won by far-right pro-Russian candidate Calin Gorgescu.

But Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the results as well as a runoff scheduled for Dec. 8, saying the election process was manipulated in favor of Georgescu by a Russia-backed campaign.