Romanian President Nicușor Dan has appealed to political parties to support Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac, as the four parties that previously formed the ruling coalition appear reluctant to back his attempt to form a government more than a month after the fall of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's cabinet.

In a brief and unexpected statement on June 10, issued after a meeting with Tomac, the head of state called for political responsibility and warned against prolonged instability.

"I appeal to the responsibility of political parties: the country's interest must take precedence. My mandate is, firstly, to maintain Romania's pro-Western direction and, secondly, to prevent a possible economic collapse," Dan said.

Tomac, an honorary presidential adviser, was nominated by Dan on June 4 and must submit his proposed cabinet and governing programme to parliament by June 14. He can also abandon the mandate, although he recently rejected rumours that he intended to do so.

The president defended his choice, saying he had nominated the person he considered best suited to rebuild a pro-Western majority. The task effectively involves reassembling the coalition that collapsed after the Social Democratic Party (PSD) joined the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) in voting down Bolojan's government.

Presidential adviser Radu Burnete separately denied speculation that he could emerge as a second-choice prime ministerial candidate should Tomac fail to secure parliamentary backing.

Tomac said he was ready to make compromises to secure support and was willing to discuss alternative ministerial nominees if parties objected to some of his choices. The National Liberal Party (PNL) has already claimed that Tomac accepted several ministers favoured by the PSD.

However, the main obstacle appears to be the governing programme rather than the composition of the cabinet. Tomac has simultaneously pledged to continue Bolojan's reform agenda while also signalling openness to social measures sought by the PSD, which has demanded an end to the austerity policies pursued by the outgoing government.

Political sources cited by G4Media said Dan could seek another solution if Tomac fails in parliament, potentially involving ministers from the former coalition under a technocratic prime minister, with presidential adviser Radu Burnete among the names discussed. Such a move would amount to a renewed attempt by the president to persuade the PNL and reformist USR to cooperate again with the PSD, despite both parties having ruled out such an alliance after the no-confidence vote supported by the Social Democrats and AUR.