Who Is Sevil Shhaideh? Romania’s Muslim Prime Ministerial Candidate Rejected By President Klaus Iohannis

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday rejected the prime ministerial candidature of Sevil Shhaideh, who was picked by the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD). Iohannis declined the nomination of Shhaideh, who is a Muslim, without providing any reasons.

“I have properly analyzed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal,” Iohannis said in a televised statement. “I call on the PSD coalition to make another proposal.”

Shhaideh, 52-year-old politician of Turkish origin, has drawn criticism for lack of political experience. She served as the development minister for six months before the PSD-led government stepped down in late 2015. Throughout her career, she has been an economist and a civil servant. Shhaideh would have been the first woman and the first Muslim to hold the office had she been selected.

She is considered PSD leader Liviu Dragnea’s close friend leading to accusations that Shhaideh may become his puppet if she becomes the prime minister. Dragnea withdrew his prime ministerial candidature because of his criminal record.

Dragnea said his party may consider impeachment of Iohannis for declining Shhaideh’s nomination. He said there was no constitutional reason for rejecting her and said the president was looking "to start a political crisis."

While Iohannis did not give any specific reason to reject Shhaideh's candidature, experts are of the opinion that her Syrian husband Akram Shhaideh’s background may have prompted the president to take such a step. There have been speculations that Akram is likely to be seen as a security risk. A group of Romanian investigative journalists, the Rise Project, had recently said Akram posted messages on social media supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad, BBC reported.

Earlier this month, PSD, which had promised higher wages and pensions during its election campaign, won the parliamentary election.