Romania appoints EU lawmaker prime minister to end political crisis

Romania’s centrist President Nicușor Dan has designated his adviser Eugen Tomac as prime minister, seeking to end a political crisis that has stalled policymaking, threatened access to EU funds, and pushed the leu currency to record lows, Reuters reports.

A broad pro-European coalition government collapsed a month ago after its largest party, the leftist Social Democrats, withdrew support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and later joined forces with the opposition far right in a no-confidence vote.

The collapse of the government less than a year after it came to power has raised concerns over Romania’s efforts to reduce the largest budget deficit in the European Union, as well as the country’s investment-grade sovereign credit rating.

Tomac, 44, a Member of the European Parliament and leader of a party not represented in Romania’s legislature, will have 10 days to form a government and secure a parliamentary vote of confidence. His cabinet is expected to be composed of technocrats, as political parties have so far failed to build a coalition with a parliamentary majority.

“Because parties did not get along, the only possible solution is a prime minister who is independent of the parliamentary parties,” Dan told reporters.

Dan said the priorities of the new government should include maintaining a pro-Western orientation, preserving financial stability, implementing reforms required to secure EU funding, and clarifying budget plans for 2027.

If confirmed, the new government will be tasked with rapidly implementing reforms to access approximately €8.6 billion in EU recovery and resilience funds before Brussels’ August deadline, while ensuring continued fiscal consolidation beyond 2026.

However, Tomac’s cabinet is expected to face difficulties securing parliamentary backing for controversial reforms, including legislation defining criteria for public sector wage distribution.

Romania’s next parliamentary election is scheduled for 2028. The country has never held early elections, and analysts say the likelihood of one remains low, as the opposition hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) currently leads in opinion polls.

By Vafa Guliyeva