Romania's PM race: Old faces resurface as political maneuvering intensifies

President Nicușor Dan is reportedly pushing for Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare to take the helm as prime minister, aiming to break the political deadlock, according to political sources speaking to "Adevărul." Nazare has garnered tentative support from the PSD, UDMR, and Victor Ponta's parliamentary group.

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Bolojan a insistat ca Nazare să vină la Finanțe în vara anului trecut. Se aștepta să-i rămână loial.

However, the Liberal Party (PNL) presents a significant obstacle. Both the Ilie Bolojan and Hubert Thuma factions within the PNL are reportedly against Nazare's nomination. Bolojan is said to be disappointed, believing Nazare betrayed his loyalty by joining the previous "Veștea" government, an attempt by the president to fracture the PNL. Sources within the PNL leadership indicate that Nazare had assured his party colleagues that President Dan insisted he remain Finance Minister in a "Bolojan" government. Meanwhile, Hubert Thuma and Alina Gorghiu reportedly view Nazare with suspicion, labeling him a "PDL-ist" due to his early career in the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) before the PNL-PDL merger.

Should the Nazare option falter, presidential advisor Eugen Tomac is being considered again. The PNL might support Tomac this time, but only under the strict condition, reiterated by Ilie Bolojan, that no PSD ministers or PSD-affiliated technocrats be included in the government. "We would have voted for Tomac in June, but the condition is clear: no PSD ministers or disguised PSD technocrats. If the president designates Tomac again as prime minister, and Grindeanu accepts a purely technocratic government, we will vote," stated PNL leadership sources.

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De partea cealaltă, Nazare ne-a spus în partid că președintele Nicușor Dan a insistat să rămână ministru de Finanțe în Guvernul Bolojan.

The final scenario on the president's table involves a minority government led by PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu. This government would rely on votes from UDMR, the anti-Bolojan wing of the PNL, the national minorities group, and Victor Ponta's sovereigntist faction. Grindeanu would still need an additional 15 votes, potentially from unaffiliated parliamentarians or some AUR members, to secure investiture. Kelemen Hunor, the UDMR president, mentioned that his party proposed compromise solutions to former coalition partners, but all were rejected, highlighting the difficulty in overcoming the political crisis.

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Noi l-am fi votat și în iunie pe Tomac, dar condiția e clară: fără miniștri PSD sau tehnocrați deghizați în PSD-iști. Dacă președintele îl desemnează iar premier pe Tomac, iar Grindeanu acceptă un guvern pur tehnocrat, noi votăm.