Nicusor Dan: I Want a Pro-Western Government and a Pro-Western Majority

Romanian President Nicusor Dan said that a government involving the Social Democratic Party and the far-right Alliance for the Unification of Romanians is not the direction in which he wants to see the country move. The president expressed hope that all sides would show flexibility in order to form a government oriented toward the West, Digi24 reports, cited by European Pravda. “I want a pro-Western government and a pro-Western majority that would support a pro-Western government. This may be a negotiating move. In any case, this is not the direction in which I want to move,” Romania’s president said. Asked whether Social Democratic leader Sorin Grindeanu would automatically become the next candidate for prime minister if Siegfried Muresan’s government fails to win approval, Dan said he did not want to discuss the issue. “I hope this government will be approved, and that is possible only through negotiations and flexibility in positions. If the government is not approved, the Constitution requires me to hold consultations again to determine the parties’ positions,” Dan said. Romania has been facing a political crisis since late spring, when the Social Democrats withdrew from the coalition and voted against the government of Ilie Bolojan in a no-confidence motion. Dan’s first proposed “non-parliamentary” candidate for prime minister, Eugen Tomac, declined the mandate due to insufficient support. The president then nominated National Liberal Party member Adrian Vestea, but he also failed to secure the necessary backing. Dan subsequently nominated conservative MEP Siegfried Muresan as prime minister. On Wednesday, September 23, Muresan said he would ask Parliament for a vote of confidence on his proposed government at the beginning of next week. Muresan currently lacks the 233 votes required for approval and plans to meet with Sorin Grindeanu, leader of the Social Democratic Party, the largest party in Parliament, in an attempt to secure his support.