President Dan pushes Eugen Tomac for PM amid fierce PNL opposition
Romania’s political crisis deepens as President Nicușor Dan’s potential nomination of MEP Eugen Tomac for prime minister sparks fierce opposition from former Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, who calls the move a "political firecracker." Orban, a senior National Liberal Party (PNL) figure, accused the president of playing "la cacealma" (a Romanian term for a deceptive political maneuver) by proposing a candidate from his inner circle, according to *Adevărul* .
Tomac, president of the People’s Movement Party (PMP) and a close ally of Dan, confirmed on Wednesday that he would consider the nomination if offered, though he has not yet received a formal proposal. "I am evaluating all scenarios," Tomac told reporters, adding that any decision would depend on securing parliamentary support . His candidacy has already triggered backchannel negotiations, with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) reportedly lobbying PNL and the Save Romania Union (USR) to back a Tomac-led government. Liberal MP Octavian Oprea revealed that PSD representatives approached lawmakers this week, arguing that "the best government would be the one proposed by the president" .
Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, also PNL president, cast doubt on the viability of a Tomac government, citing the current "parliamentary arithmetic," which he said does not favor a clear majority. Bolojan, who has led the caretaker government since the collapse of the previous coalition in April, warned that a technocratic premier—another option under discussion—would struggle to govern effectively, blaming PSD for "abandoning responsibility" . He left the door open to supporting a new nomination "if necessary," but only after negotiations at Cotroceni Palace, where Dan is mediating talks between parties .
The standoff reflects broader tensions between Dan and PNL, despite Bolojan’s insistence that their relationship remains "institutional." The president’s office has not commented on the Tomac speculation, but sources close to Dan suggest he is exploring all options to break the deadlock before the June 1 deadline to form a government or risk early elections. Meanwhile, PSD’s overtures to PNL and USR signal a potential realignment, though both parties have publicly rejected cooperation with the Social Democrats in recent months.
President Dan pushes Eugen Tomac for PM amid fierce PNL opposition
