Special correspondent Tudor Martalogu reports: Romania's future government will be pro-Western and highly attentive to public finances and reforms, President Nicusor Dan said on Thursday ahead of the start of the European Council's summer meeting, referring to the current political crisis in Romania.
'As a general principle, there is a constitutional division of powers and the president's responsibility is to designate the prime minister. As you know, following countless consultations with the parties, I appointed what I understood from their options as a possible way to resolve the crisis - first Mr Tomac and now Mr Vestea. You have also noted my criticism of the parties when I said that we should look more at the national interest and less at party interests, however legitimate they may be. Beyond that, I do not wish to make many comments. We can have a much broader discussion once this process is concluded, regardless of how it ends,' the Romanian head of state said.
Asked whether he was taking into account votes from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), Nicusor Dan said that 'this is a discussion concerning the prime minister.'
Prime minister-designate Adrian Vestea said on Thursday that this is not the time for hasty decisions or decisions taken under pressure and that he would use responsibly the time available to build a solid agreement on the governing programme.
He voiced his commitment to continuing dialogue and negotiations with political parties until the governing programme and cabinet team are finalised. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Gabriela Ionescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)
