Romanian President Nicușor Dan will consult parliamentary parties on September 17 over the designation of a new prime minister, with existing positions suggesting that no clear majority has emerged after two previous attempts to form a government failed.

The consultations, the first formal talks since two consecutive prime ministerial designations in the first half of June were followed by a failed appointment vote in parliament, are paving the way for another decisive vote by lawmakers. If a further appointment attempt fails, Dan could face increased pressure from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) to pursue early elections, a process in which the president has a constitutional role.

A second failed appointment would deepen the political uncertainty and increase pressure on Dan to consider early elections. However, holding elections without first installing a full-fledged government capable of handling key matters such as the 2027 budget could create additional institutional and economic uncertainty. A limited agreement among centrist parties to support a government with a defined mandate could therefore provide an alternative to an immediate election process, while preserving the possibility of elections if parliamentary deadlock persists.

The consultations at Cotroceni Palace will begin with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), the two parties that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on May 5. They will be followed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR) and Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), the three parties that form the incumbent, acting government. The programme will then include the national minorities’ group, smaller parties and unaffiliated MPs.

The government led by Bolojan was dismissed by parliament on May 5. Dan subsequently designated Eugen Tomac and Adrian Veștea, but neither produced a new government: Tomac withdrew before a parliamentary vote, while Veștea’s proposed cabinet was rejected on June 22.

The PSD continues to support its leader Sorin Grindeanu as its candidate and has rejected a technocratic or independent government, according to party positions. The PNL, USR and UDMR have backed European Parliament member Siegfried Mureșan, while USR has said it would not enter a government with the PSD.

PNL spokesperson Ionel Bogdan said the party would consider other options, provided they did not include PSD ministers, while AUR has reiterated that it would not support a government in which it does not participate. UDMR has also ruled out cooperation with what it describes as extremist parties, including but not limited to AUR.

The presidency has also considered Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, of a Liberal orientation but not formally a member of the PNL, among possible candidates, although the PSD reportedly does not support his designation and insists that the next cabinet should be political rather than technocratic.

Dan has raised early elections as a possible last-resort scenario amid the prolonged deadlock. Under Romania’s constitution, however, an early-election process would require a further failed attempt to form a government.

The consultations come after more than four months of interim government and are intended to precede Dan’s third designation of a prime minister, according to the Presidential Administration.