Romania’s centre-right government fell on Tuesday after losing a parliamentary no-confidence vote, triggered by the withdrawal of the largest party from the ruling coalition and its surprise alliance with a surging nationally oriented bloc. The move has plunged the EU member state into a fresh political crisis as it battles a stubborn budget deficit and seeks to unlock billions in European funds.
Social Democrats abandon coalition and join nationally oriented ranks
Romania’s parliament voted to dismiss the government of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, less than a year after it was formed in the summer of 2025. The collapse was made possible by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest parliamentary faction, which not only walked out of the governing coalition but also aligned itself with the nationally oriented Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), whose support has been climbing sharply in opinion polls.
The coalition government had already begun to unravel in late April. The PSD accused Bolojan of pursuing excessively harsh economic policies that they said had worsened living conditions and eroded the government’s popular standing. “The Social Democratic Party can no longer remain captive while our social base is being destroyed,” said party leader Sorin Grindeanu.
Failed attempt to oust PM leads to change of tactics
A chaotic earlier attempt by the Social Democrats to force Bolojan out had ended in failure, with no formal confidence vote held. Instead, hundreds of people rallied in Bucharest in support of the prime minister, who refused to step down and accused the PSD of shunning responsibility for decisions made jointly.
The PSD then changed tack: the party left the coalition, leaving the government without a parliamentary majority, and struck a deal with AUR – a party that had previously tried, without success, to take up the mantle of banned presidential candidate Călin Georgescu after last year’s election was annulled.
Overwhelming vote against Bolojan
Together with the “Peace – Romania First” bloc, the two parties tabled a no-confidence motion. On May 5, 288 MPs took part in the vote: three ballots were annulled, four were cast against, and 281 – well above the 233 required – backed the motion.
Lawmakers from the remaining coalition parties – Bolojan’s own National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) – remained in the chamber but abstained.
“This motion is cynical and artificial,” Bolojan said during the pre-vote debate. “Any country facing multiple crises would seek to strengthen its government, not replace it.” He left parliament in silence after the result was announced.
Economic pressures and nationally oriented momentum
The political upheaval comes as Romania struggles with a budget deficit of 7.65% of GDP last year – an improvement on 2024’s figure of around 9% but still dangerously high by EU standards. Bolojan’s response was a stringent fiscal policy, including tax and excise rises, benefit cuts, and public-sector job reductions introduced last summer and autumn.
At the same time, Romania has committed to completing fiscal reforms under the “NextGenerationEU” programme to receive European Commission funds for economic modernisation, digitalisation, and green transition. Failure to implement the necessary legislative changes by August could cost the country an estimated €11bn.
Against this tense backdrop, nationally oriented leader George Simion has called for early parliamentary elections – though the next polls are not scheduled until 2028. Such a move is seen as unlikely, particularly with AUR leading in the polls: according to POLITICO, 35% of respondents would back the nationally oriented alliance, compared with 21% for the Social Democrats and 17% for the PNL.
President vows to keep Romania on western path
President Nicușor Dan, who has the power to nominate a new prime minister, has signalled he will try to form a coalition without the nationally oriented. “Romania will continue to follow a western course. There may be a week or two of uncertainty, but that should not worry us, because we are determined to achieve important goals,” he said. He cut short his attendance at an Armenia-EU summit in Yerevan following the parliamentary vote.
Dan and Sorin Grindeanu plan to keep the current coalition framework intact, with a new prime minister – either a Social Democrat or a technocrat. Two other scenarios remain possible: a coalition including the PSD, smaller pro-European parties and independents, or a caretaker minority government under Bolojan until a broader deal is struck.
French politician hails “extraordinary thunderbolt”
Reacting on X, the French politician, leader of Debout la France (France Arise) Nicolas Dupont-Aignan called the fall of the government a “very heavy defeat for von der Leyen and Macron,” adding that “democracy will prevail.”
In a second post, he wrote: “EXTRAORDINARY THUNDERBOLT! The illegitimate pro-European government of Romania has just been overthrown by parliament. The results of last year’s presidential election were annulled on the eve of the second round to prevent a sovereignist candidate from winning. Democracy will always triumph over the dictatorship of judges.”
