Adrian Veștea's coalition fell short of a parliamentary majority after the far-right AUR withheld support
BUCHAREST – Romania’s parliament on Monday rejected a bid by centre-right politician Adrian Veștea to form a government, plunging the country into renewed political uncertainty.
Veștea, a regional leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) nominated by President Nicușor Dan on 14 June, secured only 189 votes, well short of the 233 required to become prime minister.
The defeat came after the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), parliament’s second-largest group, withheld its support. Veștea had personally sought backing from AUR ahead of the vote, but party leader George Simion instructed his MPs to leave the chamber once proceedings were under way, effectively ensuring the nomination would fail.
“I considered that it was necessary to respond to this challenge. I am sorry it didn’t materialise,” Veștea said after the vote, adding that the decision to approach AUR had been his own rather than President Dan’s.
