MEP and potential Romanian prime minister Eugen Tomac is in the midst of coalition talks, with one of the country’s major parties refusing to back him on the 11th of June, Politico reported.
After Romania’s centrist coalition collapsed in a no-confidence vote in May, President Nicușor Dan appointed MEP Tomac to form a technocratic government. Toac has been given until the 14th of June to name the new government. If he fails, the president will have to call for new coalition talks or find another candidate for prime minister.
Romania’s third-largest party, the National Liberal Party, told reporters on the 11th of June that the current solution could not garner the political support needed to push through reforms, and therefore refused to back Tomac. Party leader Illie Bolojan said that forming a technocratic government was a way to absolve the Social Democrats of responsibility for the situation they are in. In May, it was the Social Democrats, together with the far-right Romanian Unity Alliance, that proposed the no-confidence vote.
Tomac must now try to form a government before the 14th of June. Romanian media have reported that if that fails, the president is considering bringing back the ousted coalition.
After the National Liberal Party’s decision was announced, Tomac said that
it is not about who teaches whom, but about providing a functional government, stability and a clear direction for the country.
Romania is struggling to cope with the highest budget deficit in the European Union, but is unable to break free from political instability. If the country does not carry out significant reforms by August, it could lose about 11 billion euros in EU funds. Analysts have also expressed concern that if the country does not get its finances in order, a credit rating downgrade could soon follow.
Tomac has vowed not to let the Romanian Unity Alliance into his government. Many in Brussels saw the Social Democrats’ alliance with the far-right to overthrow the government as a breach of a pledge not to cooperate with extremists.
Dan said of the technocratic government on the 10th of June that the country’s interests must come first, and that his main task would be to maintain Romania’s westward trajectory and prevent a potential economic collapse.
If a government fails after 60 days and two failed attempts, the constitution allows the president to call new elections. However, given that polls show significant support for the far-right, Dan is unlikely to want to take that option.
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