The fourth designation made by Nicușor Dan feels like a punch in the gut to the PSD leader, who, at the beginning of yesterday, was quite confident that he was in line for the designation.
But the president chose Luca Niculescu, a former journalist, diplomat, former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who led Romania’s accession process to the OECD, a process that has not yet been completed.
For Sorin Grindeanu, it was the only way to consolidate his position at the helm of the party. Now, his situation has become more complicated. In the PSD, many, especially mayors, are already criticizing his strategy of toppling the government.
For the past five months, access to budget resources has become much more difficult, the budget adjustment has disappeared due to the limited powers of a dismissed executive, and PSD's influence in a new government is subject to the lottery of political negotiations.
Most likely, in the new context created after the designation of Luca Niculescu, PSD will obtain less than it had under Bolojan.
"...if the designated Prime Minister continues to support Bolojan's austerity policies, I believe there is no other way to put Romania back on the right track than to go for early elections...," wrote Sorin Grindeanu on his Facebook page.
Most likely, this position represents a subtle threat to Nicușor Dan, who, at least until now, has stated that early elections "are bad for Romania".
The Impossible Becomes Possible
Now, a few hours after Luca Niculescu was tasked with forming a team to govern Romania, it is hard to say if he will pass the Parliament's test.
There will be days of long and tense negotiations revolving around the names of the ministers, with each political party trying to gain at least a strategic advantage in relation to the new government.
It must be noted that there is a high chance that a parliamentary majority will not be formed if Nicușor Dan does not step in and pressure the parties, of course, using the leverage of early elections.
And so, step by step, as Klaus Iohannis used to say in the past, what seemed impossible half a year ago, when PSD internally decided to topple the Government, meaning organizing early elections, is becoming more and more possible.
"USR will analyze the program, the team of ministers, and the majority supporting it. We will discuss with the designated Prime Minister how he plans to ensure that the government can deliver results, as the USR ministers have. The decision will be made within the party's statutory bodies," stated Dominic Fritz, the USR president, shortly after the president's announcement.
Similarly, PNL, through its spokesperson, had a reserved reaction, announcing that it will "analyze the governance program, the assumed priorities, and the team it will propose," and the party's parliamentary vote will be the result of this analysis.
The Disquiet of PSD Mayors
Most likely, if the government team does not include PSD members disguised as technocrats, PNL, USR, and UDMR will vote for Luca Niculescu.
The question mark remains with the PSD, where the vote will be conditioned by direct access to political decisions, at least in a few areas of interest, such as Justice, Development, where there are financial allocations for mayors' projects, and Transport, where the shoeboxes, so dear to Sorin Grindeanu, are located.
"Yes! Romania urgently needs a government to change the country's wrong direction, to carry out the budget adjustment, and to prepare the budget for 2027. But PSD will not participate and will not cast blank votes for a construction that signifies a new political adventure," Sorin Grindeanu further announced in his statement immediately after Nicușor Dan's announcement.
As can be seen, the budget adjustment is the great urgency for PSD, indicating tensions within the party caused by the disquiet of the mayors.
Whether the government of Luca Niculescu will be voted in or not, Sorin Grindeanu's situation is increasingly complicated. After this adventure, his influence within the party will be further diminished.
The President's Lack of Elegance
He did not have much authority in the party even before, but the disclosure made by the American newspaper Wall Street Journal that he got involved in the MAGA game and that the operation to remove Ilie Bolojan was a conspiracy planned outside Romania puts Sorin Grindeanu in a difficult situation within the party because he misled PSD parliamentarians and local elected officials, making promises without coverage.
It should also be noted the lack of elegance on the part of President Nicușor Dan regarding his previous designation, that of Siegfried Mureșan, whom he did not invite to the Cotroceni Palace, did not present to the public, and did not even inform that he would nominate him, mumbling that the PNL MEP had not decided whether to accept the proposal or not.
The behavior of the Romanian President has become strident, contrasted with how he treated Luca Niculescu.
In the following days, the government team will take shape, as well as the positions of the parties. At this point, it can only be said that if this government does not pass, it will be solely because of PSD's opposition. It will be a tough choice for Sorin Grindeanu because, in any scenario, he will not come out as a winner.