Romania's Dan taps new PM, breaks democratic norms
Romanian President Nicusor Dan is a passionate chess player and, by all accounts, a rather good one, too. But now, amid Romania'songoing political crisis, Dan
Romanian President Nicusor Dan is a passionate chess player and, by all accounts, a rather good one, too. But now, amid Romania'songoing political crisis, Dan has made a move that is not only risky but arguably breaks the rules of the democratic game. Many are wondering what could have led Dan, a former civil society activist, to act this way. Two months ago, Romania's four-party coalition collapsed, leaving the country without a government as the country finds itself amid severe financial and socioeconomic crisis. In a surprise move on Sunday, Dan nominated Adrian Vestea of the Liberal Party (PNL) as the new prime ministerial candidate, after the previous candidate had withdrawn. Vestea, who currently serves as president of Brasov county council, does not however have the best track record. He graduated from a university of questionable academic standards, and later failed to have the access roads to a major Romanian NATO military base repaired, among other things. Dan made his nomination without first consulting the parties in parliament, as required by the constitution. Not only that. The president nominated Vestea without the leadership his own PNL party knowing. PNL Chairman Ilie Bolojan, who heads the current government as interim prime minister, called Vestea's nomination a "hostile act" and an "attempt to divide the PNL." Some commentators have accused the president — once an outspoken champion of the rule of law — of disregarding democratic and constitutional principles.
Lawmakers observe and record the voting procedure in Romanian parliament on May 5, 2026 following a motion of no confidence against pro-EU Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan Image: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP Political instability in Romania Romania has been mired in a political crisis for years, with frequent changes of government. For some time now, it has had one of the highest budget deficits in the EU, in 2024 even exceeding its GDP by 9%. Romania is under pressure to implement fundamental administrative and tax reforms, and overhaul its judicial system, which is regarded as corrupt. Without these measures, Romania faces the threat of a severe financial crisis and of losing out on many billions of euros in EUfunding. Romania's political elite, however, has been reluctant to make changes. Romania's Social Democrats (PSD), which was initially composed of former communistofficials from the Ceausescu dictatorship, today predominantly champions right-wing nationalist positions. Pro-Russian far-right parties have also gained traction in recent years against the backdrop of Romania's gridlocked reforms and the growing disillusionment with its corrupt political establishment. In the 2024 parliamentary election, three far-right parties secured a total of 35% of the vote, with the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) standing out as the biggest force among them. The right-wing AUR has been gaining traction in Romania Image: Robert Ghement/EPA-EFE Russian meddling? That same year, pro-Russian far-right esotericist Calin Georgescu surprisingly won the first round of Romania's presidential election.
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