Romanian PM-Designate Faces Party Opposition, May Be Expelled

Romania’s latest prime minister-designate failed to secure the backing of his own party on Tuesday, impeding the path to forming a new government.

Adrian Veștea — a former mayor, county council president and development minister from the center-right National Liberal Party (PLN) — was announced on Sunday as Romanian President Nicușor Dan’s second prime minister-designate in two weeks, after previous candidate Eugen Tomac failed to win enough support to form a technocratic government.

But on Monday evening, PNL chair and former Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan — who was forced from office when the government collapsed in May — announced that his party would not support Veștea as he seeks to form a governing coalition in Romania’s parliament. Bolojan gave Veștea an ultimatum to step down by Tuesday morning or face expulsion from the party.

Veștea quickly rejected the threat, posting on Facebook that “I will not resign, regardless of the pressure being exerted on me.”

Without official party support, Veștea is expected to rely on dissident PNL lawmakers to reach the parliamentary majority needed to form a government. But Bolojan has also threatened to expel PNL lawmakers who vote for Veștea.

PNL Secretary-General Dan Motreanu said on Tuesday that “any PNL member who accepts the position of minister or prime minister [in Veștea’s government] without being mandated by the party will be expelled.”

If no new government is formed after 60 days and two failed investitures, Romania’s constitution allows the president to call for new elections. But given polls suggest a massive lead for the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians party, it’s a path Dan is unlikely to take.