Key facts
- President Nicusor Dan nominated Eugen Tomac as prime minister.
- Tomac has 10 days to form a government and seek parliamentary confidence.
- The political crisis has stalled policymaking and endangered access to EU funds.
- The Romanian leu currency has reached record lows amid the crisis.
- Tomac's cabinet will consist of technocrats due to parties' inability to forge a coalition.
- Maintaining a pro-Western stance, financial stability, and EU fund reforms are priorities.
BUCHAREST, June 4 (Reuters) - Romania's centrist President Nicusor Dan designated his adviser Eugen Tomac as prime minister on Thursday, seeking to end a political crisis that has stalled policymaking, endangered access to EU funds and driven the leu currency to record lows. The previous pro-European coalition government collapsed a month ago when its largest party withdrew support, threatening efforts to cut the EU's largest budget deficit and risking the country's investment-grade sovereign rating. Tomac, 44, a member of the European Parliament and leader of a party not in Romania's legislature, will have 10 days to form a government and win a parliamentary vote of confidence. His cabinet will consist of technocrats, as parties have been unable to forge a new coalition. President Dan stated that the priorities for the new government include maintaining a pro-Western stance, preserving financial stability, enforcing reforms to secure EU funds, and clarifying 2027 budget plans. The new government will need to implement reforms quickly to access approximately 8.6 billion euros in EU recovery funds before an August deadline and ensure deficit reduction continues beyond 2026. However, Tomac's cabinet may struggle to gain parliamentary support for contentious reforms. Analysts suggest the likelihood of early elections is small, with the opposition AUR party currently leading in opinion polls.