By Alexandra Spanu
Bucharest, Oct 4 (EFE).- Romania is entering its sixth month without a government with full powers, prolonging a political crisis that has fueled public discontent and coincided with growing support for the ultranationalist right.
Parliament on Wednesday rejected a government proposed by conservative European Parliament member Siegfried Mureșan, extending the deadlock following the dismissal of the government led by fellow conservative Ilie Bolojan on May 5.
Mureșan had the backing of the conservative National Liberal Party (PNL), the centrist Save Romania Union (USR) and the Hungarian minority party UDMR, but his proposed cabinet received 182 votes, well short of the 233 needed for approval.
Lawmakers from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest parliamentary force, were present but did not vote, while deputies from the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), the second-largest force in the chamber, were absent.
President Nicușor Dan has called the parties to a new round of consultations on Monday, when he is expected to designate another candidate for prime minister.
Mureșan was the third candidate put forward since the political crisis began: Eugen Tomac withdrew before a parliamentary vote, while Adrian Veștea and Mureșan failed to secure the required majority.
Economic pressure
The current crisis began when the PSD withdrew from the governing coalition with the PNL, USR and UDMR over austerity measures introduced under Bolojan to reduce the budget deficit.
The PSD subsequently joined AUR and another opposition party in backing a no-confidence motion that brought down Bolojan’s government in May.
The political deadlock comes as Romania faces significant economic pressure.
The prolonged uncertainty has raised concerns among investors and increased pressure on the country’s public finances, with Romania already facing the lowest investment-grade rating from S&P, which has a negative outlook.
The political paralysis has also complicated efforts to advance reforms linked to European Union funding, while the government faces continued pressure to reduce the country’s budget deficit.
Social discontent is also high.
According to a recent poll cited in the original survey data, 88 percent of Romanians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, while AUR leads the parties in voting intentions with 36 percent, followed by the PSD with 23 percent, the PNL with 16 percent and the USR with 8 percent.
The rise of the ultranationalist right is one of the factors behind President Dan’s opposition to calling early elections.
“He will again hold consultations because he does not want to call early elections, as, if he does, the structure of Parliament would change completely,” political analyst Radu Delicote told EFE.
A strategic NATO member
With about 19 million inhabitants, Romania is a strategically important NATO member on the alliance’s eastern flank and has played a significant role in supporting Ukraine, with which it shares a border of about 600 kilometers.
AUR leader George Simion opposes military support for Ukraine and has taken a strongly critical stance toward European Union institutions.
With the PNL, USR and UDMR unable to assemble a parliamentary majority, the PSD remains pivotal to the formation of any government.
The Social Democrats have indicated that they are prepared to take on government responsibilities but are demanding a change in economic policy.
Instability since late 2024
The current political crisis has its roots in the turbulent 2024-25 electoral cycle.
In December 2024, Romania’s presidential election was annulled after the authorities cited evidence of foreign interference following the unexpected first-round victory of pro-Russian ultranationalist Călin Georgescu.
Declassified intelligence documents pointed to a coordinated online campaign that Romanian authorities said was linked to Russia. Georgescu denied spending money on his campaign.
The presidential election was rerun in May 2025, with Dan defeating Simion in the second round.
Dan subsequently appointed Bolojan to form a government, which brought together the main pro-European parties, while AUR remained in opposition.
Georgescu is currently in pretrial detention in connection with a fraud case and faces other legal proceedings.
Simion, who had promised to appoint him prime minister if he won the presidency, has called for his release as a condition for supporting a government.
Delicote said a possible way out of the crisis would be a prime minister backed by the PSD and tolerated by the other pro-European parties, a coalition between the Social Democrats and ultranationalists, or a technocratic government.
Romanian media have also raised the possibility of a technocratic prime minister. EFE
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