Overview
- President Nicusor Dan designated Eugen Tomac as prime minister on Thursday to try to break a month‑long political deadlock.
- Tomac must secure a confidence vote of 233 MPs and has about 10 days to form a cabinet, but it is not yet clear which parties will back him.
- The president set priorities for any new government that include keeping Romania firmly pro‑Western, restoring fiscal stability and pushing reforms needed to unlock roughly €8.6 billion in EU recovery funds before an August deadline.
- Tomac is a 44‑year‑old MEP in the Renew Europe group, leader of the small People’s Movement Party that holds no seats in parliament, and a presidential adviser with close ties to former president Traian Băsescu.
- Political instability has already weakened markets, pushed the leu to record lows and raised borrowing costs, making any short‑lived or fragile government likely to struggle with urgent budget and reform decisions and keeping early elections unlikely under current rules.