The Government of Romania, led by the conservative Ilie Bolojan, fell yesterday after the national Parliament approved a motion of censure promoted by social democratic and ultranationalist groups. A step that opens the door to a period of enormous anguish and very complicated negotiations, in order to form a new, viable and sustainable Government.
The crisis in this European Union (EU) and NATO country, with almost 19 million inhabitants, could lead to a political blockade that would jeopardize the country’s credit rating, access to community funds and even its currency, the Romanian leu.
In the parliamentary vote, 431 deputies were present and 288 votes were cast, with 281 of them in favor of the motion of censure, four against and three annulled. It is the initiative of this nature with the greatest parliamentary support since the arrival of democracy in the nation in 1990, reports EFE.
The motion finally had the support of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and ultranationalist formations, including the second in the hemicycle, the alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), while conservative, liberal and centrist groups chose not to participate.
Bolojan called the motion “cynical and artificial” and said before the vote that it appeared “to have been written by people who were not in government every day and did not participate in all the decisions.”
In El HuffPost We explain the keys to what has happened and what may happen, as well as its repercussions for the rest of the Union.
The origin of the problem
Bolojan has been in office since June 2025 but since the end of April he has led a minority Executive. In that month, the left-wing Social Democrats – the largest party in Parliament – demanded his resignation and subsequently left the coalition of four pro-European parties that was in charge of the country. In this way, the progressives joined the opposition bench, where the extreme right was. He has joined with her to present the motion of censure.
Before the disaster, a group of pro-European forces were in charge in Romania that included social democrats, conservatives, liberals and the Hungarian minority. The governance agreement ended the political turmoil marked by the annulment of the December 2024 presidential elections over accusations of Russian interference.
The Social Democrats (PSD) had repeatedly clashed with the still prime minister, as his austerity measures harmed his voters and clientelistic networks, while his popular support faded in favor of the more radical right, a shift that is felt elsewhere in Europe. Specifically, they reject tax increases and cuts aimed at reducing the deficit, which in 2025 was the largest in the EU at 7.9%. Likewise, salary cuts and layoffs were expected, which has generated strong social unrest.
His style of government has also been highly criticized for “belittling” his coalition partners, they denounce. The PSD claims that Bolojan had “failed to implement any genuine reforms” in his 10 months at the helm and said Romania needs a leader who is “able to collaborate.” Opinion polls show that Bolojan is the most popular politician in the ruling coalition, despite everything. Therefore, they asked the premier to resign, but the right-winger has not taken the step and they have resorted to the motion.
In these weeks of fighting and uncertainty, the currency has fallen to a record low and debt costs have risen, as political instability threatens Romania’s ability to implement the reforms needed to access some €10 billion of European Union funds before the August deadline. It is a condition of Brussels to ensure compliance with the rule of law. Bolojan has defended all his measures, he says that the snip is the price that must be paid to adjust: the country registered a deficit of 7.9% of GDP in the fourth quarter of last year,
It’s time to talk
Analysts warn that, once the motion is passed, internal struggles between the parties could prevent the formation of a cabinet in a short time. “While several scenarios are possible, the risk of credit rating downgrades, concerns about financial stability and adverse impacts on growth are likely to reduce the room for policy maneuver,” Unicredit said in a research note carried by Reuters.
Now, centrist President Nicusor Dan, who appoints the prime minister, will try to rebuild the four-party pro-European coalition with a different liberal or technocrat as prime minister. The PSD, without which a pro-European majority cannot be achieved, has repeatedly stated that it would rejoin the same coalition with a different prime minister, but Bolojan’s liberals have so far backed it and have ruled out collaborating with the left again except with their boss.
The PSD has stated that the party would not form a coalition with the far-right Alliance for the Unification of Romanians, the second largest party but a leader in public opinion polls. “I think there is still hope and, after this motion, it is the duty of the responsible parties to find a solution. I hope that Mr. Nicusor Dan (the president) will call us for consultations,” Sorin Grindeanu, the president of the Social Democrats, said after the vote.
The pro-European president Nicusor Dan, who already played a key role in the formation of the previous grand coalition Executive, will once again have a very important role in the country’s political future by being responsible for appointing the future prime minister. “The political discussions will be difficult, but it is my responsibility as president – and that of the political parties – to guide Romania on the right path,” he told reporters on Monday. His intention is to remain faithful to Europe, he insists.
The Romanian press points to a figure from the conservative National Liberal Party (PNL), Catalin Predoiu, current acting Minister of the Interior, as a possible head of the consensus Government.
