Romania's President Taps Diplomat Luca Niculescu as Fourth PM Pick to End Months-Long Crisis

Romanian President Nicusor Dan on Monday nominated diplomat and former journalist Luca Niculescu as prime minister, his fourth attempt to end a political crisis that has gripped the country since May.

The 55-year-old Niculescu is a secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has been Romania's national coordinator for its Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) accession process since 2022, The Associated Press reported.

Why Dan chose a diplomat

Speaking at Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest after consultations with parliamentary parties, Dan described Niculescu as the candidate with the best chance of securing a majority and said it is "vital and urgent for Romania to have a government", according to the AP.

"Mr. Niculescu is free to decide on the specific political-technocratic government formula following in-depth discussions with the parties," he said. "What matters most is securing a parliamentary majority."

Dan added that a government led by Niculescu would "maintain Romania's pro-Western course and honor all financial targets and commitments the country has undertaken".

'I cannot promise miracles'

Accepting the nomination, Niculescu said he would hold talks with parties in the coming days before presenting a governing team.

"My first task will be to build a parliamentary majority," he said, as quoted by the AP. "I cannot promise miracles, but I can promise a serious approach to the use of public funds, economic predictability, adherence to Romania's commitments, the acceleration of investments and reforms, and a state that functions effectively for its citizens."

He also pointed to security concerns. "A stronger state is also a better-protected state; given the war on our border, we need firmness and vision to defend Romania," he said.

PSD pushes back

The Social Democratic Party (PSD), which had pressed for its leader Sorin Grindeanu to get the mandate, was quick to criticise the choice. Grindeanu said the nomination "continues to defy parliamentary arithmetic", the AP reported.

"After four failed right-wing prime ministers, we are seeing a new designation that disregards the party that won the elections," he wrote on Facebook, adding that early elections could be "the only way" forward if Niculescu continues Bolojan's austerity policies.

During Monday's talks, the USR and AUR parties called for snap elections, according to Romania Journal.

Fourth nominee in five months

The crisis began on May 5, when Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's government was toppled in a no-confidence vote. Eugen Tomac gave up his mandate after failing to secure a majority, while Adrian Vestea and Siegfried Muresan were both rejected by parliament, state news agency AGERPRES said.

Under Romania's constitution, a prime minister-designate has 10 days to seek a confidence vote on the cabinet and governing programme.