Romanian president launches third bid to break government deadlock

Romanian President Nicușor Dan has officially convened a new round of consultations with parliamentary parties at Cotroceni Palace in an effort to appoint a new prime minister and break the country's ongoing political deadlock.

The consultations come after the withdrawal of Eugen Tomac from consideration and the failure of Adrian Veștea to secure sufficient parliamentary support to form a government, Digi24 reports.

Held in accordance with Article 103 of Romania's Constitution, the talks bring together all parliamentary political parties to discuss the formation of a new cabinet. The consultation schedule began at 1:00 p.m. with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and continued throughout the afternoon with both major and smaller parliamentary groups, concluding at 6:00 p.m. with independent lawmakers.

The latest round of discussions marks the third attempt to form a government, underscoring the challenges of building a parliamentary majority in Romania's fragmented political landscape.

The process is widely viewed as crucial for preserving the country's economic stability and maintaining its pro-Western policy course. 

Romania's political crisis was triggered on April 20, when the Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew its support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and pulled its ministers from the governing coalition. The party cited its opposition to a series of austerity measures implemented by the administration and accused coalition partners of failing to engage in substantive political dialogue, exposing deep fissures within the ruling alliance.

Consequently, the government was relegated to caretaker status, significantly curtailing its executive authority and limiting its capacity to enact major policy initiatives pending the formation of a new administration backed by a parliamentary majority.

By Vafa Guliyeva