The new president takes office at a critical time for Romania, amid the threat of a credit rating downgrade, a budget deficit crisis and a loss of confidence in democracy, according to an analysis by Politico.
A difficult job awaits Romania’s new president, Nicușor Dan, at a time when the country is facing serious economic problems and political turmoil.
“Romania’s election winner Nicușor Dan will be sworn in as the country’s president on Monday and will immediately face a juggling act from hell as he grapples with serious economic trouble and a legacy of political strife.
After defying the odds to beat hard-right radical George Simion in the May 18 second-round vote for the presidency, independent Bucharest mayor Dan will start work on forming a new government with talks among the pro-European political parties in Romania’s parliament.
That process, and the appointment a new prime minister, could take several weeks. Once it is finalized Dan’s new government will have a seriously painful inbox to tackle,” Politico reports.
“Romania risks a sovereign rating downgrade, is under (an) EU excessive deficit procedure and faces serious market confidence issues,” said Elena Calistru, co-founder and president of Funky Citizens, a civic NGO in Bucharest.