Romania names interim premier as turmoil deepens
Bucharest:
's liberal interior minister Catalin Predoiu became interim premier on Tuesday, a day after the prime minister's resignation deepened political tumult in the EU nation.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Pro-EU Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stepped down on Monday after far-right leader George Simion topped the first round of a tense presidential vote rerun.
His resignation opens the way for the far-right to be part of government if EU critic Simion wins the May 18 run-off and becomes president.
The president in Romania appoints the premier and other key posts and represents the country at EU and NATO summits.
The eastern European nation has gained in strategic importance since Russia invaded Ukraine, neighbouring Romania, with the presidential rerun closely watched in Brussels and Washington.
Ciolacu said his Social Democrats (PSD) party would leave the ruling coalition but they are expected to remain in the government on an interim basis until after the election run-off.
'Strategic mistake'
"We are in the most complicated situation Romania has ever been in" since the end of communism in 1989, political analyst Sergiu Miscoiu told AFP.
Ciolacu's resignation is a "gift to the future president" and "an act of political irresponsibility", he added.
"It is a strategic mistake because it gives all the power to the next president" who will have "an extremely wide margin of manoeuvre", Miscoiu said.
In the second round, Simion, who leads the nationalist AUR party, faces Bucharest pro-EU mayor Nicusor Dan, who narrowly edged out the ruling coalition's candidate on Sunday.
The coalition also includes the liberals (PNL), with Predoiu holding the interior ministry.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Predoiu told reporters on Monday that ministers of the liberals would continue to carry out their duties as long as they are in office.
Predoiu, 56, is a former justice minister who already served as interim premier in 2012.
Predoiu, who practised as a lawyer in the past, is also the current interim president of the liberals (PNL).
Closely watched rerun
The chances of Simion , who gained almost 41 percent of votes, double the score of his rival Dan , to win have increased due to the political turmoil, according to analysts.
Only a "very important mobilisation" of people who did not vote in the first round, including many 18-to-35-year-olds, could change the outcome, Miscoiu said.
Voter turnout for the first round was 53 percent.
As the country, one of the poorest in the EU, struggles with the bloc's highest deficit, a far-right victory in the second round could also mark a shift in the country's foreign policy.
Campaigning on a vow to put Romania first, Simion, a fan of US President Donald Trump, has criticised "Brussels' unelected bureaucrats", accusing them of having meddled in the Romanian elections.
In December, Romania's constitutional court in a shock move scrapped the presidential ballot after far-right politician Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round.
The annulment followed allegations of Russian interference and a massive TikTok campaign that emerged in favour of Georgescu, who has been barred from the rerun.
Thousands have protested the cancellation and subsequent barring of Georgescu, with Simion calling the annulment "a coup d'etat".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Kamal Haasan Stands Firm On Kannada-Tamil Language Remarks, Refuses To Apologize
Veteran actor and politician Kamal Haasan has firmly rejected demands for a public apology regarding his controversial statement about the Kannada language's origins, maintaining his position that he will only apologize if proven wrong. The 70-year-old actor's defiant stance has intensified the linguistic controversy that erupted after his remarks during a promotional event for his upcoming film "Thug Life." Speaking exclusively to India Today, Haasan emphasized his principled approach to the situation, stating that apologizing when not at fault goes against his personal philosophy. He characterized his stance as a lifestyle choice that should not be interfered with, while affirming his belief in India's democratic values and legal system. The controversy began when Haasan made statements during a film promotion event where he declared that Kannada was born out of Tamil. Speaking at the event, he began with the phrase "Uyire Urave Tamizhe," meaning "My life and my family is Tamil," before explaining that Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, who was present, represented family living in another state. Haasan then made the contentious claim that the Kannada language originated from Tamil, suggesting this linguistic connection justified including Karnataka's people in his familial reference. The remarks triggered immediate backlash across Karnataka, with pro-Kannada organizations, cultural groups, and political leaders demanding an apology from the actor. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce responded by announcing a complete ban on the release of "Thug Life" in the state, following through on their ultimatum for Haasan to issue a public apology. When confronted about the threats and potential consequences of his statements, Haasan displayed characteristic composure, simply noting that he had faced threats before and remained undeterred by the current situation. Karnataka's political establishment has unanimously condemned Haasan's remarks, with leaders across party lines expressing their displeasure. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the actor's understanding of Kannada's historical significance, emphasizing the language's extensive and independent heritage. The Chief Minister suggested that Haasan lacked awareness of Kannada's rich linguistic tradition and deep historical roots. State Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, who oversees Backward Classes Welfare, Kannada, and Culture portfolios, went further by formally requesting the film ban and writing to the Film Chamber. His letter argued that Haasan's statements had deeply wounded the sentiments of all Kannadigas and that such remarks about their land, water, and language were intolerable regardless of the speaker's stature. The ruling Congress party in Karnataka described Haasan's comments as reflecting ignorance about Kannada's greatness, while the opposition BJP demanded an immediate apology, accusing the actor-politician of disrespecting the language and its speakers. However, the Tamil film industry has rallied behind Haasan, with several prominent actors and industry figures defending his position. Kollywood personalities including Divya Spandana and Vinodhini Vaidyanathan have supported the actor, arguing that all South Indian languages belong to the Dravidian family and characterizing the controversy as unnecessary drama. The supporters have emphasized the linguistic connections between Dravidian languages while dismissing the outrage as an overreaction to academic observations about language evolution and relationships. The controversy has taken on additional political dimensions given Haasan's role as head of Makkal Needhi Maiam, a political party allied with the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. Reports suggest that Haasan is being considered as the DMK's nominee for a Rajya Sabha seat, adding political stakes to the linguistic dispute. The incident highlights the sensitive nature of language politics in South India, where linguistic identity remains deeply intertwined with regional pride and cultural heritage. The controversy demonstrates how academic discussions about language origins can quickly escalate into major political and cultural disputes when they touch upon regional sensitivities and historical narratives that communities hold dear.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
As Trump heads to G7 summit, world leaders show they're not intimidated
President Donald Trump has long bet that he can scare allies into submission a gamble that is increasingly being tested ahead of the Group of Seven summit beginning Monday in Canada. He's threatened stiff tariffs in the belief that other nations would crumple. He's mused about taking over Canada and Greenland. He's suggested he will not honour Nato's obligations to defend partners under attack. And he's used Oval Office meetings to try to intimidate the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa. But many world leaders see fewer reasons to be cowed by Trump, even as they recognise the risks if he followed through on his threats. They believe he will ultimately back down since many of his plans could inflict harm on the US or that he can simply be charmed and flattered into cooperating. Many leaders still seem intimidated by Trump, but increasingly they are catching on to his pattern of bullying, said Jeremy Shapiro, research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. In places as diverse as Canada, Iran, China and the EU, we are seeing increasing signs that leaders now recognize that Trump is afraid of anything resembling a fair fight. And so they are increasingly willing to stand up to him. In the 22 instances in which Trump has publicly threatened military action since his first term, the US only used force twice, according to a May analysis by Shapiro. World leaders feel comfortable standing up to Trump Ahead of the G7 summit, there are already signs of subtle pushback against Trump from fellow leaders in the group. French President Emanuel Macron planned to visit Greenland over the weekend in a show of European solidarity. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the US is no longer the predominant force in the world after Trump's tariffs created fissures in a decades-long partnership between the US and its northern neighbour. We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a predominant role on the world stage," Carney said this past week in French. "Today, that predominance is a thing of the past. The new prime minister added that with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the US became the global hegemon, a position of authority undermined by Trump's transactional nature that puts little emphasis on defending democratic values or the rule of law. Now the United States is beginning to monetise its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its relative contributions to our collective security, Carney said. Israel's attack on Iran has added a new wrinkle to the global picture as the summit leaders gather to tackle some of the world's thorniest problems A senior Canadian official said it was decided early on that the G7 won't be issuing a joint communiqu as it has at past summits an indication of how hard it can be to get Trump on the same page with other world leaders. The White House said individual leader statements will be issued on the issues being discussed. Speaking last month at a conference in Singapore, Macron called France a friend and an ally of the United States but pushed back against Trump's desire to dominate what other countries do. Macron said efforts to force other nations to choose between the US and China would lead to the breakdown of the global order put in place after World War II. We want to cooperate, but we do not want to be instructed on a daily basis what is allowed, what is not allowed, and how our life will change because of the decision of a single person, Macron said. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pushed back against Trump's agenda of levying higher tariffs on imported goods, arguing it would hurt economic growth. The Japanese leader specifically called Trump ahead of the summit to confirm their plans to talk on the sidelines, which is a greater focus for Japan than the summit itself. I called him as I also wanted to congratulate his birthday, though one day earlier, Ishiba said. Trump cares about being tough, but G7 is a chance to reset relations Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the summit was an opportunity for Trump to mend relationships with other countries so China would be unable to exploit differences among the G7. She said other foreign leaders are not intimidated by Trump's actions, which could be driving them away from tighter commitments with the US. The conversations that I've had with those leaders suggest that they think that the partnership with the United States has been really important, but they also understand that there are other opportunities, Shaheen said. The White House did not respond to emailed questions for this story. Many leaders feel more confident that they can sidestep Trump's threats Having originally made his reputation in real estate and hospitality, Trump has taken kindly to certain foreign visitors, such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Starmer has sought to keep Trump in line with Europe in supporting Ukraine and NATO instead of brokering any truces that would favor Russia. He has echoed the president's language about NATO members spending more on defence. But in his Oval Office visit, Starmer also pleased Trump by delivering an invite for a state visit from King Charles III. The German government said it, too, wanted to send a public signal of unity, saying that while Trump's recent meeting with Merz at the White House went harmoniously, the next test is how the relationship plays out in a team setting. There will also be other world leaders outside of the G7 nations attending the summit in mountainous Kananaskis, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Trump dressed down in the Oval Office. Italy's Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and the rest of Europe. But Italy's strong support of Ukraine and Trump's threatened tariffs on European goods have put Meloni, the only European leader to attend Trump's inauguration, in a difficult position. Mark Sobel, US chair of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, an independent think tank, said Trump's trade policies, backing for right wing European movements, seeming preference for dealing with authoritarians and many of his other actions are alienating our G7 allies, even if the US president is correct that Europe needs to do more on defence. But even as other G7 leaders defuse any public disputes with Trump, the US president's vision for the world remains largely incompatible with they want. In short, behind the curtains, and notwithstanding whatever theatre, the Kananaskis summit will highlight a more fragmented G7 and an adrift global economy," Sobel said.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
PM Modi To Begin 3-Nation Tour Today, 1st Foreign Visit Since Op Sindoor
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commence the first leg of his three-nation tour from Cyprus on Sunday before participating in the G7 Summit in Canada followed by visiting Croatia on his way back. This will be the Prime Minister's first foreign visit after Operation Sindoor. Before participating in the G7 Summit on Monday, PM Modi will visit Cyprus, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in more than two decades, and will also travel to Croatia, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will pay an official visit to Cyprus, Canada and Croatia from June 15 to 19, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday. "At the invitation of the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, PM Modi will pay an official visit to Cyprus on June 15 to 16. This will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades," the MEA said. In Nicosia, PM Modi will hold talks with Christodoulides and address business leaders in Limassol. Cyprus had condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and indicated that it would raise the issue of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan at the EU-level discussions. The visit will be timely as Cyprus is set to take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026. The visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the Mediterranean region and the European Union, as per the MEA. PM Modi will visit Cyprus on June 15 to 16, on his way to Canada to participate in the G7 Summit in Kananaskis on June 16 to 17, and conclude the five-day visit with an official visit to Croatia on June 18. In the second leg of his visit, PM Modi will travel to Kananaskis to participate in the G7 Summit, his sixth time in a row. On June 6, PM Modi received a call from Canadian PM Carney inviting him for the summit. While PM Modi will have a meeting with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, his other bilateral engagements are still being worked out, official sources said. PM Modi will also come face to face with US President Donald Trump for the first time since their meeting in February this year. The visit to Cyprus is significant also as it comes in the middle of India's tensions with Turkey over the latter's support to Pakistan. Ankara's recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the northern region that was seized by Turkish forces in 1974 and differences over gas exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean remain a constant source of tensions between Turkey and Cyprus. PM Modi is expected to reach Canada on June 16, a day after the opening of the G7 Summit. This would be PM Modi's sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit. "At the summit, the PM will exchange views with leaders of G7 countries, other invited outreach countries and heads of international organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues," said the government in its announcement. For the final leg of his tour, PM Modi will undertake an official visit to Croatia on June 18. This will be the first ever visit by an Indian PM to Croatia, marking an important milestone in the bilateral relationship. "The visit to Croatia will also underscore India's commitment to further strengthening its engagement with partners in the European Union," said the government.
