Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was ousted from office on Tuesday after losing a parliamentary no-confidence vote, following the collapse of his coalition due to the withdrawal of its largest party, the Social Democrats (PSD). A total of 281 lawmakers voted for his removal, significantly exceeding the 233 votes needed in the 464-seat parliament. Bolojan’s government had been in power for just ten months.
Romania, an EU member, has long struggled with economic difficulties and substantial debt, hindering its path to joining the eurozone. The country has been continuously subject to the EU’s excessive deficit procedure since 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Romania’s public deficit reached 7.9% of GDP, far exceeding the EU’s mandated 3% limit. The stringent cuts required to meet European debt targets were highly unpopular with the PSD, leading to their withdrawal from the coalition last month.
Political Fallout and Reaction
The leader of Romania’s largest far-right party, AUR, George Simion, celebrated the vote’s outcome online. He stated that “Bolojan’s government was removed by the Romanian parliament” and that “the so-called pro-Europeans” (Bolojan’s government) “brought nothing but taxes, war, and poverty” during their time in power. Simion added that “the voice of the Romanian people was heard today” and called for national reconciliation.
Ilie Bolojan‘s government was formed last June by President Nicușor Dan, following repeat presidential elections in May 2025. This was part of a four-party agreement, including Bolojan’s centrist National Liberal Party (PNL) and the PSD, which holds the largest bloc in parliament with 93 seats. In the debates preceding the vote, Bolojan called the no-confidence motion “cynical and artificial,” noting that it “seemed to come from people who were not part of the government” and “does not take into account the current context.” He also stated that, despite immense pressure, he “chose to do what was urgent and necessary for the country.”
Accusations and Future Arrangements
The PSD, which initiated the no-confidence vote alongside far-right opposition parties, claims it “has no post-war political agreements” with the far-right, only “a common goal” to oust Bolojan’s government. However, former PSD allies from centrist and center-right pro-European parties sharply criticized the move, arguing that it “risks normalizing once ostracized, pro-Russian, and Euroskeptic right-wing parties.”
It remains unclear what the removal of Ilie Bolojan will lead to. Although the PSD is the largest party in parliament, it now trails the far-right AUR in most polls.
Source: Deutsche Welle
