Romania's nominated prime minister secures support ahead of confidence vote

PM-designate to unveil government later on Thursday Leftist Social Democrats to join government along with technocrats Other pro-European parties pledge votes Political crisis has pressured currency, debt yields BUCHAREST, Oct 15 (Reuters) — Romania's leftist Social Democrats said they will join the government of Prime Minister-designate Luca Niculescu while other parties pledged their votes, edging the country closer to ending a political crisis that has pressured its investment-grade rating. The Social Democrats (PSD), parliament's largest party, will have 11 ministers in the proposed government Niculescu will unveil on Thursday before a parliamentary vote of confidence, PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said late on Wednesday. Technocrats will fill other ministerial posts, including finance, energy and foreign affairs. While other pro-European parties refrained from joining the cabinet, many said they will back Niculescu, ensuring the 233 votes required to win the vote of confidence. Niculescu, 55, a diplomat, former journalist and currently interim deputy foreign minister, will lead centrist President Nicusor Dan's fourth attempt to install a government in the five months since a pro