The Rector of the University of Bucharest, about Luca Niculescu: He has “somewhat better chances than the previous ones”

Marian Preda, rector of the University of Bucharest, believes that President Nicușor Dan’s appointment to the office of prime minister has, for the first time in five months, “slightly better chances” of succeeding. He made the statement to Digi24, amid indications that the parliamentary parties would not have been able to form a majority on their own.

Preda said the nomination was delayed, but represented a good decision in the current political context, which requires dialogue and communication among the parliamentary parties. He stressed that none of the major traditional parties would have had the capacity to build a sufficient majority to support a government.

In the rector’s view, the fact that the prime minister-designate is independent or a technocrat may increase his credibility with voters. Preda explained that, in recent years, Romanians have often voted “against,” rather than “for,” a candidate or party. Consequently, a person who does not provoke rejection or a negative vote from the other parties may have an advantage in political negotiations.

Marian Preda noted, however, that normally the office of prime minister should be held by a politically backed person. In the current situation, the candidate’s independence nevertheless gives him a better chance of securing the necessary support.