Romania’s political crisis intensifies as Parliament rejects pro-EU PM

Pro-European Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Muresan failed to secure a parliamentary vote of confidence in Romania, receiving only 182 out of 233 votes. The far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) largely boycotted the vote. President Nicusor Dan plans to nominate a new prime minister to prevent snap elections after a pro-European coalition government collapsed in May. Romania, an EU and NATO member bordering Ukraine, has not held snap elections since 1989.