omania’s political crisis deepened after President Nicusor Dan on Sunday designated Adrian Vestea, a member of the Liberal party, as prime minister, after independent candidate Eugen Tomac withdrew.
Vestea, 52, is the county council president of the central Romanian county of Brasov and is relatively unknown to the public. It was unclear whether he could secure a parliamentary majority and there was criticism about his nomination which came as a surprise early Sunday and without consultations with Romania’s political parties.
Eugen Tomac had been seeking to lead a government of technocrats, but it was clear he lacked the support to get his government approved.
“Eugen Tomac withdrew his mandate this morning and as such I nominate Adrian Vestea as prime minister,” centrist President Nicusor Dan said on Sunday. “At the moment it is clear that a political (government) solution is the right one.”
Parliamentary parties have argued in recent weeks that a minority political government, without a permanent majority in parliament, would be better than a government of technocrats.
However, the nomination of Vestea is seen as an antagonistic choice as the Liberal Party of which he is one of five vice presidents had not been consulted. Prime minister, Ilie Bolojan, and Liberal Party chairman was ousted in a no-confidence vote on May 5 and the party said it would not endorse a Tomac government.
There were calls for Bolojan to expel Vestea from the party.
Dan is seeking to end the politcal crisis that has jeopardized access to EU funds and driven the leu currency to record lows.
Vestea has 10 days to form a government and secure a parliamentary vote of confidence.
Romania’s next parliamentary election is not due until 2028. Romania has never held a snap election and it’s unclear whether that would happen as the opposition far right leads opinion surveys, significantly ahead of pro-European parties.
