Romanian government collapses/Parliament votes in favor of no-confidence motion against prime minister

2026-05-05 17:22:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Romanian government collapses/Parliament votes in favor of no-confidence motion

Romania's pro-European Union coalition government has fallen after a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. After a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, 281 lawmakers voted in favor of the motion and four voted against.

The effort began last week when the left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD), which withdrew from the coalition in late April, and the far-right opposition party, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), submitted the motion to parliament.

Deputies from Bologna's center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) and coalition partners, the "Save Romania" party, and the small Hungarian UDMR party, abstained.

Although early elections seem unlikely, financial markets have expressed concern that political crises could mean Bucharest wavers in its commitment to narrowing the EU's largest budget deficit. The leu, Romania's currency, fell to a record low against the euro ahead of Tuesday's vote.

The coalition government came to power 10 months ago with the aim of curbing the gains of the far right after a series of polarizing elections and had begun reducing the deficit, avoiding a downgrade from the latest investment-grade rating.

Bologani called the no-confidence motion cynical and artificial and said before the vote that it appeared to be written by people who were not in government every day and did not participate in all decisions.

"I took the position of prime minister, aware that this comes with great pressure and that I would not receive applause from the citizens. But I chose to do what was urgent and necessary for our country. Can anyone say how Romania will function from tomorrow? Do you have a plan?" he said before the vote.

Bologian will remain as interim prime minister with limited powers until parliament approves a new government. Romania's next parliamentary elections will not be held until 2028.

Romania must continue to reduce its deficit and implement reforms to benefit from about 10 billion euros ($11.7 billion) in EU recovery and sustainability funds before the end of August. The deficit is expected to narrow to 6.2 percent of Romania's economic output this year from more than 9 percent in 2024. /CNA