Romania's centrist President Nicușor Dan on Sunday designated Adrian Veștea, a member of the liberal party, as prime minister, after independent candidate Eugen Tomac withdrew. 

Veștea, 52, is the county council president of the central Romanian county of Brasov. Eugen Tomac had been seeking to lead a government of technocrats, but lacked support from the parties in parliament.

“Eugen Tomac withdrew his mandate this morning and as such, I nominate Adrian Veștea as prime minister,” President Nicușor Dan said on Sunday. “At the moment it is clear that a political (government) solution is the right one.”

Parliamentary parties have previously said that a minority political government, without a permanent majority in parliament, would be better than a government of technocrats.

Dan is seeking to end a political crisis that has stalled policymaking, endangered access to EU funds and driven the leu currency to record lows.

• EU weighs defence and governance reforms amid geopolitical pressures

Veștea will have 10 days to form a government and win a parliamentary vote of confidence.

Romania's next parliamentary election is not due until 2028. It has never held an early election and analysts say the likelihood of one now is small, as the opposition far right leads opinion surveys significantly ahead of pro-European parties.

Copied