Romania's president picks ex-minister Vestea as PM after first nominee withdraws

A second nomination

President Nicusor Dan moved quickly on Sunday morning after Eugen Tomac, an EU lawmaker and the president's initial choice, informed him he was giving up his mandate. Tomac had proposed a technocratic cabinet, but that idea found no traction in a fragmented parliament where established parties insisted on a political government, even if it lacked a majority.

Eugen Tomac withdrew his mandate this morning and as such I nominate Adrian Vestea as prime minister.

Who is Adrian Vestea

Vestea, 52, is the county council president of the central Romanian county of Brasov and a member of the National Liberal Party. He previously served as development minister from 2023 to 2024 and as a mayor. Dan praised him as someone who had "gone through all the administrative stages," touting his record in attracting EU funds and developing Brasov airport.

He was a successful mayor, a successful county council president, a successful minister, and he attracted European funds, being focused on development, for example the Brasov airport, which is a success.

Vestea's vision

In his first statement, the prime minister-designate said he wants a "political government that will undertake real reforms and keep Romania on a pro-Western path." He stressed the need to put "a major emphasis on development" and said he would negotiate with the pro-Western democratic parties in parliament.

We are the sixth largest country in Europe, and we need to put a major emphasis on development. Which I will do from day one.

A deepening political crisis

Romania has been without a stable government since early May, when a no-confidence vote ousted the previous prime minister, Ilie Bolojan, just months after his coalition took office in June 2025. Bolojan had vowed to end one of the country's worst post-communist political crises, but his administration collapsed after former allies from the Social Democrats and the far right joined forces against him. President Dan has since refused to bring the far right into government or to call early elections, which the constitution does not allow him to do anyway. The next general election is not scheduled until 2028, and an early vote is seen as unlikely because the far right currently leads opinion surveys.

Economic strains

Romania is grappling with one of the European Union's highest budget deficits, rampant inflation, and a technical recession. The prolonged power vacuum has stalled policymaking, endangered access to EU funds, and pushed the leu currency to record lows. Vestea will have 10 days to form a government and must win a parliamentary vote of confidence to take office. Whether he can muster enough support in a fragmented legislature remains uncertain.