Romania’s Social Democrats back Sorin Grindeanu for prime minister
Romania’s Social Democrats chose Sorin Grindeanu for prime minister as leaders raced to avoid a snap election after a 281-4 no-confidence vote toppled the coalition.
The Social Democratic Party backed Sorin Grindeanu for prime minister on June 24, pushing its own leader to the front of Romania’s talks over a new government. The PSD, the largest party in parliament, is trying to shape the next cabinet after the country’s pro-European coalition collapsed and left Bucharest searching for a durable majority.
The crisis deepened on May 5, when parliament passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan with 281 votes in favor and only four against. The motion was initiated by the PSD and supported by the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians, sending Bolojan into a caretaker role with limited powers while coalition negotiations resumed.
President Nicușor Dan has since tried to broker an agreement. Romanian law sets a 60-day deadline: if two prime minister-designates fail to win parliament’s backing within 60 days, the president can dissolve parliament and call early elections. Romania’s next scheduled parliamentary election is not due until 2028.
European Union fiscal analysis put Romania’s general government deficit at 9.3% of GDP in 2024 and projected it to remain far above the EU’s 3% limit, at around 8.6% in 2025. Gross debt is rising quickly, and analysts warn prolonged instability could complicate Romania’s access to EU funds, unsettle sovereign debt ratings and put pressure on currency stability.
Dan has ruled out early elections. The hard-right AUR is gaining ground in opinion polls. Grindeanu’s nomination leaves the PSD pressing for a government formula that preserves its influence.
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