BUCHAREST – Sevil Shhaideh, a Romanian Muslim woman, could become the country’s first female prime minister with her name already being put forward by the Social Democratic Party to take the post after winning recent general election.

The proposal was made by Liviu Dragnea, chairman of the PSD, Aljazeera reported on Thursday, December 22.

Being little known in Romania, Shhaideh’s name was a surprise.

Shhaideh, 52, is a party member, but did not run as a member of parliament in the election.

She was the minister for regional development for six months in 2015, and is currently an official in the regional development ministry.

If approved by parliament, she will become the country’s first Muslim prime minister.

Dragnea is banned from taking the role because he was convicted of election fraud.

“If appointed, she would be prime minister, but the political responsibility stays with me first of all,” Dragnea said, praising Shhaideh for her knowledge of public administration and for being hard-working and loyal.

The left-leaning Social Democrats easily won the December 11 parliamentary election, but did not secure a majority and will govern with a minority partner.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday he would appoint a prime minister designate after Sunday as he needed time to assess a proposal made by the Social Democrat Party (PSD), the winners of a December 11 parliamentary election.