Romania PM nominee refuses to quit despite party revolt
Why it matters: The deadlock threatens deficit-cutting, EU funding access and efforts to keep Romania’s far right from power.
Romania’s prime minister-designate, Adrian Vestea, said he will press ahead with forming a government and seek parliament’s approval after his own Liberal Party demanded that he step down. President Nicusor Dan tapped Vestea on Sunday after his first nominee, presidential adviser Eugen Tomac, quit when he failed to win backing for a technocratic cabinet. The pro-European coalition collapsed in early May when the Social Democrats joined the far right in a no-confidence vote. The Liberals and Save Romania Union have ruled out another deal with the leftists, leaving Vestea short of an obvious majority and reliant on dissenters, independents or a fragile minority arrangement.