The Romanian parliament on Tuesday approved a government proposed by pro-European prime minister-designate Luca Niculescu, ending months of political deadlock.
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Niculescu, the fourth candidate to try and form a government during the crisis, received 280 votes, more than the 233 needed.
A 55-year-old diplomat with no political affiliation, Niculescu had proposed a cabinet made up of ministers from the centre-left Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest in the country, and technocrats.
“Romania needs a government with full powers after so many months of political crisis,” Niculescu said on Tuesday in parliament.
“We live in an increasingly uncertain world. There is a war on Romania’s borders, and the threats to European security are greater than they were a few years ago,” Niculescu added.
Besides the PSD, Niculescu was also backed by the liberals of acting prime minister Ilie Bolojan and the Hungarian ethnic party UDMR, though they will not be part of the government.
The far-right AUR, which has led opinion polls with support approaching 40 percent in recent months, did not support the Niculescu cabinet, calling it a “puppet government”.
Diplomatic experience
President Nicusor Dan, a pro-European centrist, nominated Niculescu earlier this month to form a government, saying his diplomatic experience would give him the best chance of securing a parliamentary majority.
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A former ambassador to France, Niculescu, 55, has most recently been in charge of Romania’s bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a secretary of state in the foreign ministry.
Before becoming a diplomat, he was a prominent journalist who served as editor-in-chief of RFI Romania, a TV host and correspondent for French media outlets.
Romania has faced political uncertainty since the annulment of its presidential election in December 2024 over allegations of Russian interference.
A parliamentary election held that month produced a fragmented legislature, with far-right parties winning about a third of the seats.
A four-party pro-EU coalition led by Bolojan was brought down by a no-confidence vote in May, supported by the PSD and the AUR amid a row over austerity measures.
“We are voting for the chance to change a course of action that has caused a great deal of harm to Romanians and the economy,” PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said on Tuesday.
‘Putting out fires’
Dan had ruled out a cabinet including the far right as well as snap elections, arguing that a new vote would prolong the political crisis and further strain state finances.
Bolojan said at the weekend that the liberals would cast a “vote of necessity” in favour of the Niculescu government, despite moving into opposition.
“Romania needs a functioning government to prevent certain public institutions and basic services from collapsing,” Bolojan said.
It is unclear how long the Niculescu cabinet will last as both the PSD and the liberals have said they will reassess their support in the coming months.
“We are likely to see a new round of hostilities starting this spring,” political analyst Sergiu Miscoiu told AFP, expecting tensions between the PSD ministers and the technocrats in the cabinet.
“The prime minister will largely have to act as a firefighter, putting out fires and trying to move things forward under the current circumstances,” Miscoiu said.
Writing on Facebook, Niculescu said the combination of one party and technocrats was a “less common formula in Romania but one that is appropriate to the situation we find ourselves in”.