Romania's centrist liberals have won parliamentary approval to form a new government, ending months of political uncertainty.

The vote of confidence paves the way for the new prime minister to appoint an EU commissioner.

A total of 240 lawmakers of the 465-member parliament voted in favour of a minority government of Ludovic Orban, leader of the National Liberal Party. 

The previous Social Democrat-led government, which had faced protests over controversial judicial reforms, fell after a no-confidence vote on 10 October.

A knock-on effect of the situation in Romania has been to help delay the arrival of the new European Commission team, which had been due to take office in Brussels on 1 November.

The political deadlock in the country had meant it had yet to nominate a viable commissioner.

"Our objective is to re-establish the confidence in Romania of our Euro-Atlantic partners," Orban told lawmakers from his party and four small parties whose support he secured before the vote.

Orban, 56, and a former transport minister, is expected to appoint a new EU commissioner after previous nominees were rejected.

The crucial parliamentary vote came ahead of a first round of presidential elections on Sunday with incumbent Klaus Iohannis, a former PNL leader himself, the clear front-runner.