Romanian political crisis deepens as parliament rejects PM nominee

Romania’s parliament rejected Siegfried Mureșan’s attempt to form a government Wednesday, deepening a crisis that began when the coalition collapsed in May.

President Nicușor Dan, an independent moderate, proposed MEP Mureșan for the job — but lawmakers in Bucharest refused to back his candidacy in a crunch vote Wednesday. 

It is the second time parliament has formally voted down Dan’s nominee, and under Romania’s constitution that means a snap election is now a possibility.

But Dan does not want to dissolve parliament for a national vote that would likely benefit the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, which is currently ahead in the polls. He wants the feuding political leaders to put aside their differences and make a deal to support a new coalition.

“Politicians need to look towards the people who gave them their mandate,” Dan said during a visit to the Czech Republic before parliament voted on Wednesday. “When an overwhelming majority of Romanians say that this crisis should end, there are good chances that politicians will be persuaded to reach an agreement.”