“Because the parties do not agree with each other, the only possible solution is a prime minister who is independent of the parties in parliament, who will succeed through individual discussions with each of these parties to lead Romania in the direction Romanians want,” Dan said on Thursday. “This means a pro-Western direction, this means preserving financial stability.”
Tomac, a former historian and journalist who has advised Dan on the interests of Romanians abroad, now has 10 days to assemble a cabinet, draw up a government program, and win the backing of parliament.
Tomac said he would lead a “technical government, not a political one” and present a “professional” team of “specialists” who can steer the country in the right direction.
“I fully understand the difficult context we are going through,” he said. “Romania is in a moment that demands, first of all, responsibility. This is the only way we can give Romania the clear direction we need.”
The appointment of Tomac comes a month after Romanian politics plunged into crisis with the ousting of the centrist government, a move that stoked fears of a downgrade by credit rating agencies and the potential loss of EU funds.
Talks between Dan and political leaders in the weeks since have failed to produce an agreement on a new power-sharing deal between the major parties in parliament.