Bucharest

The government fell in Romania. Bolojan ousted

The Romanian parliament challenged the executive, opening a phase of political uncertainty and economic risks, while new coalitions are being sought to avoid early elections.

5 May 2026

Il primo ministro rumeno Ilie Bolojan interviene durante una seduta parlamentare alla vigilia di un voto di sfiducia a Bucarest, in Romania, martedì 5 maggio 2026. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) APN

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The government led byIlie Bolojan was challenged by the Parliament of Romania, which passed a motion of censure. The motion received 281 votes in favour, well above the required 233 threshold. Voting for the fall of the executive were in particular MPs from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and opposition forces. The government now remains in office with powers limited to ordinary administration until a new executive is formed.

"This motion of censure is false, cynical and artificial," Bolojan said during the tense debate before the vote. "Any country, in a multiplicity of crises, would seek to consolidate governments, not change them."

A decisive role in the fall of the government was played by the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP). Opposed to the severe austerity policies adopted in Bucharest, last month the party walked out of the government led by the Liberal National Party of Bolojan and announced its intention to collaborate with the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians to remove the premier.

The choice caused embarrassment in the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, of which the SDP is a member, after years of criticism of the European People's Party for similar agreements with the extreme right.

Bolojan and the National Liberal Party had been in power since 2025, following the resignation of former premier Marcel Ciolacu. His fall comes less than a year after the presidential elections in which the moderate mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, defeated the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, George Simion.

Simion is considered the main director of Bolojan's downfall. His extreme right-wing party is growing in the polls and could strengthen further in a phase of prolonged instability, with risks for an already fragile economic situation.

Romania must complete key reforms by August in order to release some11 billion euro of EU funds and, if it does not get its public accounts in order, it could also suffer a rating downgrade.

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During the parliamentary debate, Simion called for early elections. "Let us take on the future of this country, a future government and restore hope to the Romanians," he said. "The fate of Romania must be decided by the votes of the Romanians," he added.

Early elections before the end of the current legislature in 2028, however, are considered unlikely. President Dan should now start consultations with party leaders to form a new government coalition under a new prime minister. One possibility is for Bolojan's Liberals and the Socialists to form a new coalition led by an independent technician.

Another hypothesis is that Bolojan will be appointed to lead a minority government, leaving the SDP in opposition along with Simion's far-right MPs.

Before the vote, President Dan had tried to reassure both Romanian voters and European allies. "I want to assure Romanians that no matter what happens one way or another, Romania will continue to maintain its western direction," he told a press conference on Monday. "There might be one or two weeks of uncertainty, but this should not worry us, because there is a commitment to the important goals," he added.