Sources: Nicușor Dan changes course again and seeks technocratic prime minister after UDMR blocks Tomac

Nicușor Dan has changed direction again in the search for Romania’s next prime minister. Political sources cited by Adevărul say the president considered nominating his adviser Eugen Tomac, but UDMR leaders blocked the proposal.

The Hungarian party reportedly told Dan it could not support Tomac now after rejecting the same proposal three months ago. UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor instead suggested Sorin Grindeanu, the PSD leader, should become prime minister and form a fully political government with UDMR, the conservative wing of PNL and Victor Ponta’s sovereignist parliamentary group.

Dan is hesitant to choose Grindeanu because he fears a government led by the PSD politician would quickly lose public support. That, the sources say, could push voters toward AUR and allow the party to reach 50% on its own in the 2028 parliamentary election. Such a result could force the president to appoint the prime minister proposed by the sovereignist party.

UDMR’s votes are decisive for installing a new government. PNL and USR have said they will not support an executive that includes PSD ministers, leaving a possible parliamentary formula based on PSD, UDMR, national minorities and sovereignist defectors grouped under Ponta.

The president is now reportedly seeking a technocrat with economic expertise and no close ties to any political party, amid budgetary pressure. That candidate would still have to form a political government capable of winning Parliament’s approval.