President Nicușor Dan signed a decree on Friday designating Eugen Tomac as Romania’s prime minister-designate, ending weeks of political deadlock and setting the country on course for a fragile new government. The move follows failed coalition talks with PSD, PNL, and USR that left Romania without a functioning cabinet since the previous government collapsed in late May. Tomac, who resigned as leader of the PMP party on Wednesday, will now seek a confidence vote in Parliament for his proposed government and ministerial lineup.
Speaking after the decree was signed, President Dan framed the decision as a matter of responsibility, stating that no viable alternative existed for forming a new executive. “It is a question of responsibility for the Tomac government to pass,” he said, urging the premier-designate to engage in cross-party negotiations to secure parliamentary approval. Tomac’s designation comes after intensive consultations with UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor, who had previously been seen as a potential kingmaker in the deadlock.
USR, one of the key parties in the fragmented parliament, has signaled conditional support for a Tomac-led government. Vice-president Radu Mihaiu outlined two critical conditions: USR will not support a cabinet that includes PSD, and the party will coordinate with PNL to resolve the political crisis. “We will discuss with Eugen Tomac to see if there is a way to accommodate these things,” Mihaiu told Digi24 . Irineu Darău, interim Economy Minister and USR member, added that the party would participate in consultations “out of respect for democracy and the president.”
The political landscape has shifted further with former Prime Minister Victor Ponta leaving the PSD parliamentary group on Friday to join the “Uniți pentru România” faction, a move that underscores deep divisions within the social-democratic camp. Ponta, who was expelled from PSD earlier this year, now aligns with lawmakers who previously left the POT party, signaling a realignment that could reshape parliamentary arithmetic ahead of the confidence vote.
Tomac, a historian and former MEP, faces a steep challenge in securing the 233 votes needed in the 465-seat Parliament. His resignation from the PMP leadership—announced just hours before the presidential decree—appears to be a strategic step to broaden his appeal beyond his former party. Analysts suggest that his success hinges on whether he can broker a minimal coalition with PNL and UDMR while keeping PSD and its splinter groups at arm’s length. The coming days will determine whether Romania’s longest post-election deadlock can finally be resolved—or whether the country will face another round of instability.
President Nicuor Dan appoints Eugen Tomac prime minister-designate amid political deadlock