Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan addresses the Parliament in Bucharest on May 5, 2026. DANIEL MIHAILESCU / AFP
Romania's parliament on Tuesday, May 5, voted to oust liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in a motion of no confidence initiated by the Social Democrats and the far right, deepening political turmoil in the EU and NATO country bordering Ukraine.
The move by the left-wing Social Democrats (PSD), Romania's biggest party, to join with the far right to file the motion drew criticism that they were legitimizing a surging far right. The motion received 281 votes in the 464-seat parliament. Bolojan's liberals (PNL) and his USR allies were present, but did not vote.
The PSD quit the government last month and teamed up with the AUR, Romania's main far-right party, for the motion. The AUR has passed the PSD in surveys since the last parliamentary elections, sitting at around 37%. AUR leader George Simion posted on X after the vote that "the voice of the people was heard today," calling for "national reconciliation."
Tensions with the PSD escalated as Bolojan, 57, pushed for unpopular austerity measures to reduce the deficit, the biggest in the European Union. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said after the vote that Bolojan should resign, while it is "the duty of responsible parties to find a solution." "I want us to form a government quickly," he said.
