Romanian President Nicusor Dan is a passionate chess player and, by all accounts, a rather good one, too. But now, amid Romania'songoing political crisis, Dan has made a move that is not only risky but arguably breaks the rules of the democratic game.
Many are wondering what could have led Dan, a former civil society activist, to act this way.
Two months ago, Romania's four-party coalition collapsed, leaving the country without a government as the country finds itself amid severe financial and socioeconomic crisis.
In a surprise move on Sunday, Dan nominated Adrian Vestea of the National Liberal Party (PNL) as the new prime ministerial candidate, after the previous candidate had withdrawn.
Vestea, who currently serves as president of Brasov county council, does not however have the best track record. He graduated from a university of questionable academic standards, and later failed to have the access roads to a major Romanian NATO military base repaired, among other things.
