Romania’s parliament has voted to oust pro-EU Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in a no-confidence motion, deepening political turmoil in the European Union and NATO member state bordering Ukraine.
The motion, initiated jointly by the left-wing Social Democrats (PSD) and the right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), received 281 votes in the 464-seat parliament. Bolojan’s liberal National Liberal Party (PNL) and its Save Romania Union (USR) allies were present but did not vote.
The PSD, Romania’s biggest party, quit the government last month before teaming up with the AUR to file the motion. The decision drew sharp criticism that the Social Democrats were legitimising a surging right-wing force.
“By joining with the AUR, the PSD has turned it into a significant political player, from a party that was isolated, ostracised and kept on the margins of the political system,” political scientist Costin Ciobanu told AFP.
The AUR has overtaken the PSD in surveys since the last parliamentary elections, polling at around 37 per cent. Its leader George Simion posted on X after the vote that “the voice of the people was heard today,” calling for “national reconciliation”.
Tensions with the PSD escalated as Bolojan, 57, pushed for unpopular austerity measures to reduce the deficit, the biggest in the EU. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said after the vote that Bolojan should resign while it was “the duty of responsible parties to find a solution”.
“I want us to form a government quickly,” Grindeanu said.
Pro-EU President Nicușor Dan has given assurances that the eastern European country of 19 million people will keep its pro-Western direction, ruling out the possibility of a right-wing government.
“Political discussions will be difficult, but it is my responsibility as president — and that of the political parties — to steer Romania in the right direction,” he told reporters on Monday.
In parliament ahead of the vote, Bolojan defended his push for reforms, slamming the motion as “deceitful, cynical and contrived”.
“I chose to do what was urgent and necessary for our country,” he said.
Bolojan’s liberals, the PSD and two other pro-EU parties formed a government last year following elections in which right-wing parties won an unprecedented third of parliamentary seats. The deal ended political tumult marked by the annulment of presidential elections over allegations of Russian interference in December 2024.
Ciobanu, a researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, said weeks of political negotiations were likely, which could see a new government formed by the same four pro-EU parties but under a different premier.
According to Reuters, Bolojan will stay on as interim premier with limited powers until a new government is endorsed by parliament.
Since the crisis erupted, interest rates on Romanian borrowing have risen, and the leu has depreciated against the euro, which reached an all-time high of 5.21 Romanian lei on Tuesday.
Romania, which had a deficit of 7.9 per cent of GDP in the fourth quarter of last year, has been subject to an EU excessive deficit procedure since 2020.
Knock ’em down, but they get up again: AUR may oust Romania’s pro-EU government