Romania finally gets a prime minister, budget crisis PM Bolojan's first test

Romania's President Nicusor Dan nominated Ilie Bolojan, leader of the National Liberal Party, after weeks of coalition talks. Now, the biggest challenge in the new government's hands will be tackling the budget crisis read more
Romania's new pro-Western president, Nicusor Dan, on Friday nominated Ilie Bolojan, leader of the pro-European National Liberal Party (PNL), as the country's next prime minister. AP
Romania's new pro-Western President, Nicusor Dan , nominated Ilie Bolojan, leader of the pro-European National Liberal Party (PNL), as the country's next prime minister. The move was announced on Friday, marking an end to the weeks of political uncertainty following the annulled December presidential elections.
The 56-year-old centre-right leader was serving the role of Senate president and is known for his reformist approach and administrative discipline. It is pertinent to note that Bolojan had previously served as acting president from February to May, when Dan defeated a hard-right opponent in a heated presidential election rerun .
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The nomination came as Romania, a European Union and NATO member state, is seeking to end a protracted political crisis that has gripped the nation since last year. Bolojan was nominated following a fresh round of talks between Dan and PNL. The biggest challenge facing Bolojan now will be taking care of the budget crisis in the country.
The budget crisis: Bolojan's biggest challenge
The 56-year-old leader will be tasked with tackling Romania's dire finances and reconciling the divided EU member. The country's budget deficit stood at 9.3 per cent at the end of last year, making it the highest in the European Union, AFP reported.
In a press conference last week, Bolojan said Romania was 'in a complicated situation', adding that the incoming government would have to resort to 'unpopular measures' that could include cutting public spending and imposing tax rises.
Meanwhile, Political scientist Sergiu Miscoiu told AFP that Bolojan was 'the person best placed to take unpopular measures to tackle the serious budget crisis'. However, analysts also point out that apart from a brief time as interim president, he had 'no experience in national politics'.
Apart from this, deep social divisions in the nation were also made clear by the controversies that surrounded the presidential election. According to Cristian Andrei, a Bucharest-based political consultant, the new government will face the challenge of reaching a longer-term consensus over already delayed state reforms.
'There is only a disputed agreement on very short-term measures for the economic and budget crisis,' the political consultant told The Associated Press. 'If the short-term measures come with a social cost, inflation … (and) will not be met by profound changes in policies and institutions, then the political crisis will loom over the next years and (future) elections," he furthered.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
What comes next
Bolojan's nomination will now need to be approved by the country's parliament. According to Euro News, his government is expected to be comprised of the leftist Social Democratic Party, or PSD, the PNL, the reformist Save Romania Union party, and the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party.
Ahead of his nomination, the PSD has pushed for a power-sharing agreement that would see a rotation of the prime ministerial post. While speaking after being nominated for the prime ministerial position, Bolojan said he's 'fully aware of the great responsibility' the role will bring and acknowledged it 'will not be an easy undertaking.'
'I will pursue three priorities: to restore order to the country's finances, to work toward good governance that creates conditions for development in Romania, and … to show proper respect to the Romanian people," he furthered.
While the far-right parties recently won a third of the parliament seats, they were kept out of the talks to form a new government. Defeated presidential candidate labelled the move as 'a disgrace and an insult'. Meanwhile, the European Union has voiced concerns over the rise of Eurosceptic parties in NATO member Romania that are opposed to sending military aid to Ukraine.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
With inputs from agencies.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

India Today

34 minutes ago

• India Today

How Trump targeted Harvard's foreign students and what court says now

Harvard University, known globally for its academic excellence and diverse student body, has found itself at the center of a political storm. Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have repeatedly tried to restrict the university's ability to host international students — a move that directly challenges Harvard's global identity. Now, recent court rulings have provided temporary relief, but the situation remains SECURITY 'S ATTEMPT TO CUT HARVARD INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMMEOne of the major actions came from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which tried to revoke Harvard's certification to host international students under the Student Exchange and Visitor Program. This program allows institutions to issue key visa documents (like the F-1 student visa), and without it, Harvard wouldn't be able to enroll students from responded by suing the government, claiming that DHS didn't follow proper procedures. In May, a federal judge temporarily blocked DHS's action. Then, in a more recent ruling, the judge issued a preliminary injunction, halting the move until the legal case is fully resolved — which could take months or longer. While the ruling is a win for Harvard, the judge noted that DHS still has the right to evaluate Harvard's status through regular procedures. For now, the university remains certified, but the review ENTRY BAN FOR INCOMING HARVARD STUDENTSadvertisementIn a separate action, Trump issued a presidential proclamation to stop new international students from entering the U.S. if they planned to attend Harvard. The administration argued that allowing these students in was not in the country's quickly challenged this in court, arguing that targeting students bound for one specific school didn't meet the legal standard of banning a "class of aliens." The same judge stepped in again to pause this entry ban — with no end date set yet. Harvard is now waiting for the judge to make a longer-term decision on this linked his efforts to concerns about antisemitism on Harvard's campus, especially during pro-Palestinian protests. But Harvard's leadership has insisted they're already working to address these issues and won't bow to political VISA SCRUTINY AND DISCRIMINATION CONCERNSIn another move, the Trump administration ordered US embassies and consulates to inspect the social media accounts of anyone applying for a visa to study or work at Harvard. The idea was to screen for content that could be seen as anti-American or after, the State Department expanded this to include all student visa applicants across the country, not just those going to Harvard. Visa applicants were told to make their social media accounts public, raising concerns about privacy and were also told to give priority to schools where international students make up less than 15% of the student body. Since Harvard and other Ivy League schools have higher percentages of foreign students, this effectively places them at a IT MATTERS?International students are a major part of Harvard's community — making up about 26% of the total student population. In certain programs, like public policy, business, and law, that number is even say the Trump administration's actions are part of a broader effort to pressure elite universities into changing campus policies related to protests, admissions, and academic hiring. Supporters argue that the government is simply holding institutions accountable. Either way, Harvard believes it's being unfairly targeted, and the courts are now playing a key role in deciding what comes next.(With AP inputs)Tune InMust Watch

Mint

36 minutes ago

• Mint

How a Mumbai architect rebuilt a vineyard in France's Rhône Valley

On a visit to the Château de Beaucastel in France years ago, the first thing that struck me was how wellintegrated it was with its surroundings, how minimalistic. It is deliberately so. As Charles Perrin, fifth generation co-owner, Château de Beaucastel, explains, 'Beaucastel's identity is rooted in two things: respect for the land and quiet, patient innovation.' The reimagined Château de Beaucastel, which was inaugurated in May after an extensive renovation by Mumbai-based architect Bijoy Jain, is still rooted in that philosophy of sustainability. Château de Beaucastel is the flagship winery of the Perrin family, located in Courthézon in southern Rhône in the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The 'new palace of the pope', as the name translates, was France's first wine appellation (which is like a tag or label to identify the region a wine originates from) given at a time when the papal seat moved from Rome to southern France from 1309-77. Famous for their discerning palates and extensive cellars, the popes sought quality and found that the rugged terroir of the region produced extraordinary, powerful wines. Besides their own extensive wine estates that include Beaucastel (since 1909) and La Vieille Ferme, the Perrins have partnered with Brad Pitt to produce super-brands Château Miraval, Champagne Fleur de Miraval and Gardener gin. But Beaucastel remains closest to their hearts. The Perrins' commitment to organic viticulture is well-documented with Jacques Perrin being one of the earliest adopters of organic farming in 1950, and biodynamic viticulture from 1974. As the Perrins' business grew, so did Beaucastel's reputation and it needed a structure that would accommodate the practical requirements of future expansion. So, in 2018, the family announced an international competition to select an architect for the renovation of the Château de Beaucastel winery. They received 1,200 entries from architects of 32 nationalities. In the end, Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai was awarded the project. Working with him would be former colleague Louis-Antoine Grégo of Studio Méditérranée, France. 'Grégo was at Studio Mumbai working with us on the renovation of a 16th century convent in Nice, in the south of France.... It seemed a natural progression to make a proposal for Beaucastel with this group who shared in the same sentiments towards the making of things, spaces, materials, landscapes,' says Jain. The key factor for the renewed winery was to synthesise the idea of 'terroir', the French word that encapsulates the environment in which a wine's quality is determined. Perrin's brief to the architects was simple: 'Build with what the earth gives us. Let the elements handle the energy load. Invite dialogue, not ostentation.' The new winery had to co-exist with parts of the old structure, including the original manor house constructed in the 17th century. For Jain, the challenge was to design a structure that would pay homage to the wine itself. Photo: Nicolas Facenda Perrin explains, 'Our earlier chai (the barrel room) was a workhorse but energy-hungry and too small for parcel precision (storing wines from individual plots separately before the final blending). The new wing doubles capacity yet is 80% underground, so from a distance you see vineyards and the ochre-coloured courtyard walls that mirror the old stone.' The russet boundary walls enclose the château that sits amidst the vineyards. It is constructed using the rammed earth technique—known as pisé in French—of compressed red clay mixed with recycled limestone and rubble from old Beaucastel sheds. The walls were compacted layer by layer—the veins and pebbles visible—thus fulfilling Perrin's brief: 'The new winery must grow out of the same soil that nourishes our vines.' Close to 90% of the structure was made from materials found on-site—initially from a pit 50x50 metres and 15m-deep. When the gravel ran out, rubble from old buildings was added—so the new structure was literally 'pressed' from Beaucastel's terroir without any concrete or iron, using construction techniques dating back to ancient Egypt and China. 'It was a mere displacement of landscape. No truck came in or left,' explains Jain. Grégo says, 'We took terroir, which is essentially flat and made it vertical—you can see its veins in the walls. We deconstructed parts of the old buildings that were not required, crushed the concrete into gravel, and added it to the mix.' For Jain, the challenge was to design a structure that would pay homage to the wine itself. He recalls, 'The ground, soil, wind, rain, sun were resources available in the immediacy of the landscape. We needed to use this abundance to create architecture made from the physical environment to provide a quiet resting space for the wine to evolve and achieve its full potential.' This genius loci as Jain calls it, became the vision for Beaucastel. On the energy front, electricity is generated from multiple rooftop solar panels, while cooling comes from the mighty mistral wind of the Rhône Valley, which is channelled through underground galleries via inbuilt wind towers and over an underground cistern holding gallons of water collected from the rooftops. 'Water is the basis of life so the cistern is the project's foundation and acts as a cradle for the wine,' explains Jain. 'The mistral is drawn deep into the ground and circulates above the water's surface, dropping the temperature in the cellar to an even 12 degrees centigrade through the year.' The cooled air is then distributed to the cellar spaces, while the water supplies most of the winery's needs. 'This is an integrated structure free of any mechanical device or industrial material,' says Jain. Winemaking capacity was optimised. Perrin explains, 'We insisted on gravityflow reception, individual fermenters sized to our 13 cépages (a specific blend of grapes) and 70 parcels and circulation paths that future generations can adapt without demolition. The design incorporates 91 small concrete vats, clay jars from Impruneta in Italy and larger wooden tanks that allow each plot and varietal to be vinified separately into the classic Beaucastel blend—an old dream finally realised.' Before the commencement, the Perrin family had taken Jain on a road trip to Burgundy to visit three wineries, the last being the iconic Domaine de la Romanée Conti. 'It was a misty morning at the Domaine, and we stood on a slope in the vineyards, looking down the large stone cross that symbolises the famous winery. In the distance I could see a group of people walking towards it—as if they were on a pilgrimage. It was magical, like a painting. Then we walked deep into the cellars. I remember the walls, a rock with water trickling over its surface, a gravel floor and a barrel serving as a tasting table. Bottles of DRC were opened... This experience changed me, gave me an insight into the potential of wine through the mechanics of taste. The penny dropped,' says Jain. The space is a continuing the dialogue between culture, craft and terroir. Photo: Nicolas Facenda For Grégo, the €16 million project was a huge learning. 'We had never built a winery before like this one. We studied for three years before starting construction— that took another three-and-a-half years. Longer than expected, but this was pioneering work.' Finally, the result was a collaboration of individual skill sets, says Jain, preferring to describe Studio Mumbai as one of many collaborators. Engineer Philippe Clement of French company Batiserf was, in his view, pivotal to the project. 'He ensured the material dissolves into pure architecture, while landscape artist Tom Stuart Smith was intuitive in his interpretation of the gardens, planting indigenous shrubs and trees that needed little water… The builders, masons, carpenters—each one claimed ownership of the project.' For Perrin, the project's results exceeded expectations. 'Visitors tell us the place feels timeless, as though it had always been there. But the renovation is a milestone, not an end.... In the new tasting cloisters, we plan to host artist and scientist residencies—continuing the dialogue between culture, craft and terroir that began when an Indian studio helped a Rhône family re-imagine its home.' Ruma Singh is a Bengaluru-based wine and travel writer.

India.com

37 minutes ago

• India.com

Iran Israel war: Who are favouring Israel... which countries are supporting Iran... Know details here

Iran Israel war: Who are s favouring Israel... which countries are supporting Iran... Know details here Iran-Israel War: A fierce war has been going on between Iran and Israel for the last several days, hundreds of people have lost their lives in this war, many military bases have been completely destroyed. Apart from this, displacement has also been seen on a large scale. Meanwhile, the question is which countries are supporting Iran, and which countries are standing with Israel at this time? Which countries are with Iran? Iran's biggest dilemma at this time is that many countries are supporting it, but it is not necessary that they will come forward to help it when needed. The biggest example of this is many Muslim countries that are strongly opposing Israel's attack, but it seems difficult to say whether they will jump into the battlefield if needed. Among the Muslim countries, countries like Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and Iraq are seen standing with Iran. A big name in this is Pakistan , which is a nuclear-rich country. Pakistan is currently trying its best to get 21 Muslim countries to stand with Iran by showing solidarity. The big thing is that at this time countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Turkey, Somalia, Libya and Algeria have condemned the Israeli attack. Who are supporting Israel Among these nations are prominent players such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Norway, Austria, Germany, India, Canada, Poland, Spain, and even the European Union as a collective entity. The majority of these countries have affirmed their backing of Israel's legitimate right to self-defense, particularly in the face of challenges presented by groups like Hamas.