Nicușor Dan postpones consultations with the parties to nominate the prime minister. The discussions could take place on Thursday (sources)

President Nicușor Dan has postponed consultations with the leaders of the parliamentary parties to appoint a new prime minister, with the discussions most likely to take place on Thursday, September 17. The meetings were initially scheduled for Wednesday, but by Tuesday evening the Presidential Administration had not sent official invitations to the political parties.

The consultations are taking place amid Romania’s longest political crisis. On Thursday, 135 days will have passed since the Bolojan Government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion backed by the PSD and AUR. The president intends to appoint a new candidate for the position of prime minister this week, before departing for the United States on September 19 to attend the UN General Assembly.

Those being considered include Luca Niculescu and Alexandru Nazare, the finance minister and a PNL member. Nicușor Dan has praised Nazare’s experience in budgetary matters and relations with the financial sector, but stressed that appointing the prime minister depends on securing political support for at least 233 votes in Parliament.

Since June, the president has nominated two candidates. Eugen Tomac resigned his mandate before the vote, while the government proposed by Adrian Veștea was rejected by Parliament on June 22. Since then, negotiations to form a stable majority have failed. Nicușor Dan has said that snap elections have not been ruled out.