President Nicușor Dan has nominated Adrian Veștea of the National Liberal Party (PNL) as the new prime minister. The decision was made without prior consultation with the parties represented in parliament, as required by the constitution. Veștea currently serves as president of the Brașov County Council.
The nomination has drawn sharp criticism. PNL leader Ilie Bolojan, who is serving as acting prime minister, called Veștea’s nomination a “hostile act” and an “attempt to split the PNL.” Commentators accuse the president of disregarding democratic and constitutional principles — a charge particularly striking for Dan, who was once seen as a staunch defender of the rule of law.
Romania is mired in a severe political crisis. Two months ago, the four-party coalition collapsed, leaving the country without a functioning government. Compounding the situation are a high budget deficit and pressure from Brussels to reform the judiciary and administration. Dan presented himself during the election campaign as a pro-European patriot and promised to lead the country out of the crisis.
Source: www.dw.com
