The vote of no confidence put an end to the government of Ilie Bolojan, from the centre-right National Liberal Party (PML), who had led a minority coalition since 2025 with the socialist party – making his tenure last less than a year.
Gaia Neiman
The fall of the Romanian pro-European coalition government on Tuesday (5 May) plunged the country into political limbo, after lawmakers backed a motion of no confidence initiated by the centre-left and the far-right, prompting statements of concern across Europe.
The vote of no confidence put an end to the government of Ilie Bolojan, from the centre-right National Liberal Party (PML), who had led a coalition since 2025 with the socialist party and the liberal party, making his tenure last less than a year.
The motion comes just a week after the Social Democrats, the majority in Bucharest’s parliament, withdrew their support for the prime minister after accusing the government of “failing to implement any genuine reform”.
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the anti-EU far-right party AUR (the Alliance for the Union of Romanians) jointly submitted the motion of censure.
A total of 281 MPs in Romania’s 464-seat parliament voted in favour and four voted against. Those from Bolojan centre-right PML, and coalition partners abstained.
Bolojan minority coalition follows a turbulent time in the country marked by the annulled national elections in 2024 due to suspected foreign interference.
Bolojan describe the motion as “cynical” and “artificial” and accused opponents of not having a plan.
“I assumed the position of prime minister, being aware that it comes with enormous pressure and that I would not receive applause from the citizens. But I chose to do what was urgent and necessary for our country,” Bolojan said before the vote.
“Can anyone say how Romania will function from tomorrow. Do you have a plan?”
‘Uncharted waters’
Romanian centre-right MEP Siegfried Mureșan told EUobserver he fears the nation will “enter into completely uncharted waters from the new majority that emerged today.”
Mureșan wrote on X that the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parlialment would need to explain the thinking behind collaborating with “one of the most extremist anti-European forces in the EU.”
“Creating parliamentary majorities with parties that are constantly attacking the EU and denying its role is profoundly anti-European,” he also wrote on social media.
“The socialist party [in Romania] has a long track record of anti-European action,” Mureșan told EUobserver, arguing that they had been planning a collaboration with the Romanian extreme right. “Now it’s their responsibility to provide a future for the Romanians”.
“The majority of people have always been pro-EU in the country, and the socialist party has tried to mislead people into believing they too, were pro-EU,” Mureșan continued. “The new parliament does not reflect the view of the people.”
Some 74 percent of Romanians are reported to be in favour of staying in the EU, according to research by Romanian polling company INSCOP published last March.
Meanwhile, the Romanian president, centrist Nicusor Dan, announced that he will coordinate with the new coalition, saying: “We will have a new government within a reasonable timeframe” – one that will be “pro-Western.”
His public statement on Tuesday ruled out any escalation to new national elections.
‘European warning’
The European Green Party rushed to publicly condemn the socialist party for collaborating with the far-right.
“The developments in Romania are not just a national issue; they are a European warning sign,” said Ciarán Cuffe, an Irish politician and the co-chair of the European Greens.
