Romanian president nominates second prime minister in hours, AUR calls the move 'ridiculous' and threatens to block it
President Nicușor Dan designated PNL's Adrian Veștea to form a government after Eugen Tomac's resignation, drawing a furious reaction from opposition AUR senator Petrișor Peiu who called the proposal 'ridiculous' and compared it to interwar royal tactics.
A second designation within hours
On Sunday morning, President Nicușor Dan announced that Eugen Tomac had returned his mandate and that he was designating Adrian Veștea, the president of the Brașov County Council and first vice-president of PNL, as the new prime minister. The declaration was made at Cotroceni Palace. Veștea accepted the mandate, saying he assumed responsibility in a moment of political crisis.
AUR's sharp rejection
Senator Petrișor Peiu, deputy leader of AUR, told Digi24 that the party would not vote for any government in which it did not participate. He called the Veștea proposal 'ridiculous', arguing it had no parliamentary majority and derived from no coalition agreement.
Mr. Nicușor Dan probably realized late that his imposed Tomac government had no chance to pass the vote, so in desperation he resorts to the second weapon: appointing a liberal to break off some votes from liberal parliamentary groups.
Peiu added that AUR's stance was 'consistent' and that the party would never support a government without AUR holding the premiership or one that sought to alter the PSD-PNL-USR-UDMR coalition's economic policy.
Historical parallels and personal barbs
Peiu also attacked Veștea's academic background, alleging he graduated from an 'obscure' university in Brașov that was later closed and controlled by a local PSD leader. He drew a parallel with King Carol II, accusing President Dan of reviving a tactic of appointing a formal liberal prime minister modeled after Gheorghe Tătărescu, ready to obey the head of state.
The bizarre president Nicușor Dan is returning us to the Ciolacu era and to Carol II's habits, naming a premier candidate after the image of Guță Tătărescu, a formal liberal willing to dance to the new Carol II's tune.
USR awaits PNL's stance
Ştefan Pălărie, the USR senators' leader, said his party was primarily waiting to clarify PNL's position and to see whether a majority would take shape. He did not immediately endorse or reject the new designation.
No confidence in defections
Asked whether Veștea might negotiate with AUR, Peiu said such a move would lack 'decent behavior.' He expressed doubt that PNL parliamentarians who unanimously opposed entering government with PSD would change their minds overnight just because the premier is a liberal. 'Unless some MPs vote out of fear anything that comes from the presidency, the proposal won't get the needed votes,' he warned.
