Neither the parliamentary parties, nor President Traian Basescuwere able to find a politician to take on the challenge of puttingtogether a new government in the current crisis, so that that thehead of state opted for economist Lucian Croitoru, 52, who is closeto governor Mugur Isarescu and has no political affiliation.
Croitoru is the third Premier appointed from outside thepolitical world in twenty years, after Theodor Stolojan and MugurIsarescu, with the task to build a government in full economiccrisis and at a time of political turmoil, as well as to take thenecessary reform steps to keep the foreign funding from the IMF andEU coming.
He says that "if it is going to be, it will be a politicalgovernment," as requested by President Traian Basescu from theparties, after dismissing the idea of a technocratic government onWednesday.
Advisor to NBR Governor Mugur Isarescu for a number of years,which include the 1999-2000 period when the latter was a PrimeMinister, Croitoru has ten days to try to gain the politicalsupport of PSD (Social-Democratic Party) and PNL (National LiberalParty) to put a new government in place, after having failed togain support from the two parties for his appointment to NBR deputygovernor early this month.
"Had I not stood any chances of getting sufficient politicalsupport, I would have clearly said I would not take this position,but I guess there is a chance and I plan to take advantage of it. Iam not thinking in terms of staying for one week or two months,"Croitoru was quoted as saying by Mediafax.
Croitoru's official nomination confirmed one of the most oftendiscussed versions for the option of the head of state, which onlymade the antagonistic positioning of PSD and PNL worse, withliberals threatening to file a petition with the ConstitutionalCourt. UDMR (Democrat Alliance of Hungarians in Romania), however,showed a certain willingness to talk. Over the last few days, PSD,PNL, UDMR and the minorities have formed an about 65% parliamentarymajority, backing Sibiu's mayor Klaus Johannis for PrimeMinister.
Croitoru's competency when it comes to economy is unanimouslyacknowledged in political and business circles, yet the businesssector has its doubts about the management abilities that thePremier appointed has not had a chance to show until now.
Basescu justified his choice of Croitoru by pointing to hiseconomy-related competencies and his experience with the IMF, wherehe was Romania's representative from 2004 through 2007.
Romania risks having the third tranche from the IMF worth 1.5billion euros delayed because it cannot fulfil the legislativecommitments undertaken in the absence of a Government backed by theParliament.
Jeffrey Franks, head of the IMF mission, yesterday stated thatthe Fund was monitoring the political developments in Bucharest butdid not anticipate the agreement would be suspended. "It is to beexpected that the delegation, which is supposed to start talks forthe second assessment of the agreement will visit Romania once anew Cabinet has been formed."
The announcement that Croitoru was chosen did not encourage theRON, with quotes on the forex market keeping close to 4.30 RON/EUR,after the Stock Exchange ended the day with 0.35% decline.
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