Romania’s prime minister-designate Adrian Vestea failed to secure parliament’s confidence late on Monday after the far-right opposition withheld support, prolonging a political crisis that could affect the country’s access to European Union funds and weigh on its credit standing.
Vestea received 189 votes, short of the 233 needed to form a government.
The failed vote now puts pressure on centrist President Nicușor Dan, who must nominate another candidate under Romania’s constitutional framework.
Romania has never held an early parliamentary election since the fall of communism, and the next scheduled vote is not due until 2028.
Analysts say parliament is likely to approve the next nominee, particularly as the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) continues to lead in opinion polls.
Vestea, a member of the centre-right Liberal Party, was nominated by Dan without formal party consultation, in what observers viewed as an attempt to quickly rebuild a pro-European government capable of tackling reforms and reducing Romania’s large budget deficit.
Romania’s previous broad pro-European coalition collapsed in May after the Social Democrats, parliament’s largest party, left government and joined the opposition in backing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
Although the Social Democrats later backed Vestea’s bid, the Liberals and two smaller former coalition partners refused to support him, effectively leaving his fate dependent on AUR.
AUR leader George Simion said his party would not support Vestea, accusing mainstream parties of unfairly branding AUR as extremist.
The party, which opposes military aid to Ukraine and has criticised EU defence initiatives, has gained momentum in recent polling.
Political analysts say a minority government, either led by the Social Democrats or a smaller centre-right bloc, now appears the most likely outcome, though such administrations have historically struggled to govern effectively in Romania’s fragmented parliament.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar sys...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy c...
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar systems, as U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. The IRGC also said two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of around $690 million in additional support. The latest disbursement brings total funding under the programme to about $2.2 billion.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers called for restraint on Tuesday as renewed conflict in the Middle East overshadowed regional talks in Manila, warning that escalating violence could derail diplomatic efforts and threaten global stability.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of around $690 million in additional support. The latest disbursement brings total funding under the programme to about $2.2 billion.
Japan said on Tuesday it had lodged a diplomatic protest with China after Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire drills in waters Tokyo considers part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Defence companies are accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of high-speed interceptor drones as Russia increasingly deploys jet-powered versions of its Shahed attack drones, posing a growing challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment