BUCHAREST, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Former National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Crin Antonescu has been officially designated as the coalition candidate for Romania's presidency, interim PNL president Ilie Bolojan announced Monday.

The decision was reached by consensus among coalition leaders from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the PNL, the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), and representatives of national minorities.

Antonescu, who withdrew from politics nearly a decade ago after leading the PNL and co-founding the Social Liberal Union, said extraordinary political and social circumstances led him to accept the nomination.

He stressed the need to hold presidential elections "as quickly as constitutionally and legally possible" to restore political stability.

The coalition parties intend to rally behind Antonescu to address the country's challenges, including stabilizing government operations and advancing reforms, according to Bolojan. ■