Romania's President Taps European Parliament Member as Prime Minister

Central European Times 5 Jun 2026 1 min read

Romanian President Nicușor Dan has designated Eugen Tomac, a Member of the European Parliament and former presidential adviser, as prime minister-designate, tasking him with forming a new government within ten days.

The nomination, announced on Thursday, comes nearly a month after the collapse of the Bolojan cabinet and reflects Mr Dan's bid to break a prolonged political deadlock among the country's main parliamentary parties.

In a statement at the presidential palace, Mr Dan said the country required a prime minister "independent of the parties represented in Parliament," but one who nonetheless possessed the political experience to engage them. He described the appointment as "an act of responsibility," calling on political parties to reciprocate.

Mr Tomac, 44, accepted the mandate, pledging to assemble a team of specialists rather than a political cabinet. "Romania now needs projects that are completed and clear objectives that are pursued consistently," he said.

The path to a confidence vote, however, is far from straightforward. The centre-right National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union have both indicated they will withhold support for any government that includes members of the Social Democratic Party, while the Social Democrats have countered that they will not back a technocratic cabinet if current USR figures remain in office.

Mr Tomac stepped down as president of the People's Movement Party on Wednesday, the day before his designation — a move widely seen as an effort to present himself as a figure above partisan politics. He is closely associated with former President Traian Băsescu, under whom he served as a presidential adviser from 2006, and has represented Romania in the European Parliament since 2019.

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