BUCHAREST: Romania’s pro-European Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was ousted on Tuesday in a no confidence motion brought by the Social Democrats, his estranged allies, and the far right, deepening political turmoil in the EU and Nato member bordering Ukraine.

The left-wing Social Democrats, the biggest party, were accused of legitimising extremist politics after they teamed up with the main far-right party AUR to bring down the coalition government.

The motion received 281 votes in the 464-seat parliament. Bolojan’s liberals and his allies were present, but did not vote.

AUR leader George Simion posted on X after the vote that “the voice of the people was heard today” and called for “national reconciliation”.

The Social Democrats quit the government last month in protest over unpopular austerity measures aimed at reducing the deficit, the biggest in the European Union.

The AUR has overtaken the Social Democrats in surveys since the last parliamentary elections, sitting at around 37 percent.

Pro-EU President Nicusor Dan has said the eastern European country of 19 million people will keep its pro-Western direction, ruling out a far-right government or early elections.

“We are beginning negotiations to form a new government,” he said, calling for calm and insisting there was “consensus among the pro-Western parties on Romania’s broad directions”.

Social Democrat leader Sorin Grindeanu said after the vote that Bolojan should resign, and it was “the duty of responsible parties to find a solution”. “I want us to form a government quickly,” he said.

‘Cynical, contrived’ motion

In parliament ahead of the vote, Bolojan defended his push for reforms, slamming the motion as “deceitful, cynical, and contrived.” “I chose to do what was urgent and necessary for our country,” he said.

According to law, after parliament adopts a motion of no confidence, the prime minister and ministers can remain in office until a new government is sworn in, but with limited powers. Bolojan’s liberals, the Social Democrats and two other pro-EU parties formed a government last year following elections in which the far right won an unprecedented third of parliamentary seats.

The deal ended political tumult marked by the annulment of presidential elections over allegations of Russian interference in December 2024. The no-confidence motion against Bolojan now threatens to revive the turmoil.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2026