Romanian PM-Designate Seeks Confidence Vote

Romanian Prime Minister-designate Adrian Vestea has asked Parliament to grant a vote of confidence to his proposed government, despite not yet securing a parliamentary majority.

The political situation remains uncertain following the collapse of the pro-European governing coalition in early May.

President Nicusor Dan, a centrist, tasked Vestea, a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL), with forming a government without consulting the party leadership.

Analysts described the move as an attempt to restore a pro-European administration and continue reforms aimed at reducing Romania's budget deficit, the highest in the European Union.

The PNL has since distanced itself from Vestea, expelled him from the party and refused to back his cabinet. Former coalition partners from the USR and the ethnic Hungarian party UDMR have taken the same position.

The Social Democrats, by contrast, have pledged their support and are expected to receive nine ministerial posts in the proposed government.

Without backing from opposition parties or defectors from other political groups, however, the cabinet is unlikely to win a confidence vote.

The nationalist AUR party, currently the largest party in Parliament, argues that early elections would be the best solution.

The prolonged political crisis also threatens Romania's access to billions of euros in EU funding and could complicate efforts to preserve the country's investment-grade credit rating.

(reuters, bak)