Romania's search for a government has a new name on the ballot. President Nicușor Dan signed a decree Tuesday naming Luca Niculescu as the country's candidate for prime minister, the state news agency Agerpres reported.

Niculescu is a senior diplomat. He is a secretary of state in the foreign ministry and led Romania's bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the past four years, Politico Europe reported. He is the fourth person tapped to lead a government since the ruling coalition collapsed in May. Lawmakers voted down two earlier picks. A third never made it to a vote.

To take office, Niculescu must win a vote in parliament on his cabinet and program, within 10 days of being named on Monday. He says his "first mission" is to build a majority that keeps Romania on its European and Euro-Atlantic path. Dan said Niculescu can decide whether his team is made up of politicians, experts or both.

The math is hard. The Social Democrats, or PSD, met Tuesday to decide their stance. Leader Sorin Grindeanu said he was disappointed he was not picked himself. He asked for an open mandate to negotiate, according to Informat.ro, which published accounts of the meeting. One senior member floated a six-month government to break the deadlock. Others said the party should stay in opposition. The meeting ended with no final decision.

The hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians, or AUR, leads the polls. Its leader, George Simion, skipped Monday's talks with the president and is demanding a new election. Dan has said parties he sees as anti-Western will have no place in the government. He has resisted calls to dissolve parliament, Politico Europe reported.

Dan says the delay is hurting Romania. He pointed to exchange rates, interest rates and investment, and said the country needs a budget for next year.

What we know: Niculescu has been formally named and has days to win a confidence vote.
What we don't: Whether the Social Democrats will join or back his cabinet.