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France 24
8 hours ago
- Business
- France 24
Romania names pro-EU PM after months of instability
Bolojan, 56, leader of the liberal party (PNL), will be tasked with tackling Romania's dire finances and reconciling the divided EU member. Romania was plunged into political chaos when presidential elections were annulled in December over allegations of Russian interference, with a far-right candidate mounting a massive social media campaign. In an official address Friday, centrist Dan, who won a rerun of the presidential vote in May, said Bolojan was the person "best suited to make the necessary adjustments in the Romanian state apparatus". Bolojan said he was "aware of the great responsibility" he was assuming in the face of Romania's prolonged budget crisis -- its deficit stood at 9.3 percent at the end of last year, the highest in the European Union. Bolojan's appointment will need to be confirmed by parliament, where he hopes to secure the support of four pro-European parties and form a government next week. He will face a daunting task to unify a nation deeply polarised after recent elections, with far-right parties winning a third of parliamentary seats in December. The talks to form a new government excluded the far-right parties, a decision defeated presidential candidate George Simion labelled as "a disgrace and an insult" last week. 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. - 'Drain' of public money - Bolojan came through the ranks of the liberal party he joined in 1993, serving as mayor of the city of Oradea in the north-west before eventually rising to the national level last year and taking over as party leader. He took over as senate president late last year and fired 150 people in a bid to "stop" the drain of public money, a move critics branded as "abusive". "Such cuts can be made in many institutions," he said. 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. Political scientist Sergiu Miscoiu told AFP that Bolojan was "the person best placed to take unpopular measures to tackle the serious budget crisis".
Int'l Business Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Romania Names Pro-EU PM After Months Of Instability
Romanian President Nicusor Dan named pro-European Ilie Bolojan as prime minister on Friday, following weeks of talks aimed at appointing a new government to end months of political turmoil. Bolojan, 56, leader of the liberal party (PNL), will be tasked with tackling Romania's dire finances and reconciling the divided EU member. Romania was plunged into political chaos when presidential elections were annulled in December over allegations of Russian interference, with a far-right candidate mounting a massive social media campaign. In an official address Friday, centrist Dan, who won a rerun of the presidential vote in May, said Bolojan was the person "best suited to make the necessary adjustments in the Romanian state apparatus". Bolojan said he was "aware of the great responsibility" he was assuming in the face of Romania's prolonged budget crisis -- its deficit stood at 9.3 percent at the end of last year, the highest in the European Union. Bolojan's appointment will need to be confirmed by parliament, where he hopes to secure the support of four pro-European parties and form a government next week. He will face a daunting task to unify a nation deeply polarised after recent elections, with far-right parties winning a third of parliamentary seats in December. The talks to form a new government excluded the far-right parties, a decision defeated presidential candidate George Simion labelled as "a disgrace and an insult" last week. 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. Bolojan came through the ranks of the liberal party he joined in 1993, serving as mayor of the city of Oradea in the north-west before eventually rising to the national level last year and taking over as party leader. He took over as senate president late last year and fired 150 people in a bid to "stop" the drain of public money, a move critics branded as "abusive". "Such cuts can be made in many institutions," he said. 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. Political scientist Sergiu Miscoiu told AFP that Bolojan was "the person best placed to take unpopular measures to tackle the serious budget crisis". However, the analyst pointed out that apart from a brief time as interim president he had "no experience in national politics".
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ilie Bolojan named Romania's new Prime Minister amid political turmoil and budget crisis
Nicusor Dan (Photo: AP) Romanian President Nicusor Dan on Friday nominated Ilie Bolojan, leader of the pro-European National Liberal Party (PNL), as the country's next prime minister, ending weeks of political uncertainty following the annulled December presidential elections. Bolojan, 56, currently Senate president, is known for his reformist credentials and administrative discipline. His appointment comes at a critical moment, with Romania facing a record-high budget deficit of 9.3% and lingering fears over foreign interference in its democratic institutions. 'Ilie Bolojan is best suited to make the necessary adjustments in the Romanian state apparatus,' President Dan said in a televised address. Dan himself was elected in a May rerun, after the December vote was annulled amid allegations of Russian meddling. The nomination must now be approved by parliament, which remains fragmented. Bolojan is expected to navigate a divided legislature while pursuing difficult economic reforms. In a press conference last week, Bolojan acknowledged the challenges ahead. 'Romania is in a complicated situation. The new government will need to implement unpopular measures — including possible spending cuts and tax hikes.'
The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Romanian president nominates Liberal Party leader Ilie Bolojan as PM
FILE PHOTO: Romania's Ilie Bolojan walks to attend a European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium March 20, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/ File Photo BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Centrist President Nicusor Dan nominated Liberal Party leader Ilie Bolojan as Romania's prime minister on Friday after weeks of negotiations on forming a coalition government to tackle the largest budget deficit in the European Union. Bolojan will continue talks with four pro-European parties over cabinet appointments and fiscal measures and he is expected to ask parliament to give his government its vote of confidence next week. The incoming government must lower the fiscal deficit from last year's 9.3% of economic output to avoid a ratings downgrade from the last rung of investment grade and unblock billions of euros worth of EU funds. It will likely include the centre-left Social Democrats, the country's biggest party, as well as Bolojan's Liberals, centre-right Save Romania Union and the ethnic Hungarian party UDMR. "It is in Romania's interest that the government is supported by a solid majority, and the parties understand this," Dan said. The four parties and the president spent weeks wrangling over ways to lower the deficit, hesitating over unpopular tax hikes Brussels, ratings agencies and analysts say are inevitable but which are likely to further bolster the rising far-right. The fiscal package will likely save around 30 billion lei ($6.9 billion) and entail an equal mix of spending cuts, postponed investments and tax hikes. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; editing by Alan Charlish and Toby Chopra)
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Romanian president nominates Liberal Party leader Ilie Bolojan as PM
Mr Ilie Bolojan was nominated to be Romania's prime minister on June 20. PHOTO: REUTERS BUCHAREST - Centrist President Nicusor Dan nominated Liberal Party leader Ilie Bolojan as Romania's prime minister on June 20 after weeks of negotiations on forming a coalition government to tackle the largest budget deficit in the European Union (EU). Mr Bolojan will continue talks with four pro-European parties over cabinet appointments and fiscal measures and he is expected to ask parliament to give his government its vote of confidence next week. The incoming government must lower the fiscal deficit from last year's 9.3 per cent of economic output to avoid a ratings downgrade from the last rung of investment grade and unblock billions of euros worth of EU funds. It will likely include the centre-left Social Democrats, the country's biggest party, as well as Mr Bolojan's Liberals, centre-right Save Romania Union and the ethnic Hungarian party UDMR. "It is in Romania's interest that the government is supported by a solid majority, and the parties understand this," Mr Dan said. The four parties and the president spent weeks wrangling over ways to lower the deficit, hesitating over unpopular tax hikes Brussels, ratings agencies and analysts say are inevitable but which are likely to further bolster the rising far-right. The fiscal package will likely save around 30 billion lei (S$8.8 billion) and entail an equal mix of spending cuts, postponed investments and tax hikes. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
