Key facts
- Romania's Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac is seeking parliamentary support for a new technocratic government.
- Tomac has promised to back the private sector and deliver economic growth.
- He insists that austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit must continue.
- Romania faces a deadline of August 31 to implement reforms and secure around €11 billion in EU funding.
- Tomac acknowledges the risk that fiscal restraint could increase support for the far-right.
Romania's Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac is urgently seeking parliamentary support to form a new technocratic government, aiming to steer the country through a political crisis and economic challenges. With a critical deadline approaching on June 14, Tomac has pledged to prioritize reforms that support the private sector and foster economic growth, while insisting that austerity measures are necessary to reduce the country's historically high budget deficit.
Tomac, an MEP since 2019, emphasized continuity on fiscal trajectory and European anchors, stating that the reduction path for the deficit is non-negotiable. He plans to restore dialogue with the business community and aggressively push for digitalization and the removal of bureaucratic barriers. His program aims to differentiate itself from his predecessor by adopting an unambiguously pro-private-sector stance and framing entrepreneurship as a tool for rural development.
The urgency is amplified by an August deadline for implementing key reforms to unlock approximately €11 billion in vital EU funding through the Covid recovery plan. Tomac stated he would personally lead negotiations with the European Commission, leveraging his experience in the European Parliament. He acknowledged the political difficulty of some reforms and indicated his government would use emergency ordinances if necessary.
Tomac also addressed the risk that continued fiscal restraint could alienate voters and fuel support for the populist far-right, acknowledging that perceived unfairness in austerity measures can drive citizens towards extreme political options. He stressed the importance of demonstrating fairness by ensuring the state pays its share before citizens face new burdens, and combating voter exhaustion with inconsistent political messaging.