April 25-30, 2026

A review of the headline-grabbing events of the past week.

Corina Cristea, 02.05.2026, 14:00

Motion of censure against the Bolojan Government

The announcement that Romania’s largest party, PSD – until recently part of the governing coalition – will submit a motion of censure against the Bolojan government, in partnership with AUR, the ultranationalist populist party that brands itself as sovereignist, took the political scene by surprise. The news broke on Monday morning, while PSD and PNL leaders Sorin Grindeanu and Ilie Bolojan were attending consultations convened by President Nicuşor Dan with pro European parties. Sorin Grindeanu emphasized that PSD’s joint action with AUR is aimed solely at removing the Bolojan cabinet and does not signal any long term cooperation between the two parties. He also stressed that withdrawing political support for Ilie Bolojan and dismissing his government through a motion of censure is, in PSD’s view, the necessary step toward forming a stable executive. AUR leader George Simion echoed this, stating that the alliance’s only purpose is to bring down the current government. The parties remaining in the minority governing coalition, USR and UDMR, consider the motion ill timed, while PNL denounces PSD’s move as an act of extreme irresponsibility.

Read in Parliament on Wednesday, the motion was signed by 254 MPs – far more than required – including representatives from PSD, AUR, POT, SOS, PACE, and several independents. It accuses the government of damaging the economy, impoverishing the population, and fraudulently selling state assets, referring in particular to measures aimed at increasing the efficiency of state owned companies.

In response, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan argued that he has become a target precisely because he refused to act as a “convenient” prime minister and instead blocked the misuse of public funds. He stated on public television that “for years, the state budget has been treated like a piggy bank for underperforming administrations and delayed projects,” adding that he introduced rules and exposed areas generating major losses. Bolojan also presented a 10 month performance overview: budget revenues up 12%, expenditures down 3%, and a firm insistence that reforms must continue regardless of who becomes prime minister after Tuesday’s vote.

Speaking from Dubrovnik, Croatia, where he was attending a regional summit, President Nicuşor Dan assessed that a PSD AUR government is highly unlikely and expressed confidence that, even if the motion succeeds, Romania will still end up with a pro Western government. Political instability has already begun to affect the economy: the euro has surpassed 5.10 lei, the state’s borrowing costs on foreign markets have risen, and the Bucharest Stock Exchange is losing ground.

President Nicușor Dan’s participation in the Three Seas Initiative Summit

During his participation in the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Croatia, President Nicușor Dan emphasized that the states in the region must operate as a unified market and highlighted the need to prioritize transport, energy, and digital connectivity. He described the format as highly important for the region’s economy and for the prosperity of Romania’s citizens, called for stronger transatlantic cooperation, and supported consolidating the Three Seas Initiative at the administrative level.

On the sidelines of the summit, Romanian representatives signed two Memorandums of Understanding: one concerning the connection between the ports of Constanța and Rijeka, and another regarding Romania’s accession to the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund. The agreement between the two ports aims to strengthen regional connectivity and reinforce the role of the Port of Constanța as a strategic hub on the Black Sea, facilitating its integration into European transport corridors and improving access to international markets.

While in Dubrovnik, President Nicușor Dan also announced plans for a future economic and financial partnership with the World Bank focused on investments in the nuclear sector. He added that he held discussions with the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, on shared priorities in the energy field, ranging from nuclear cooperation to liquefied natural gas.

Romanian–American Partnership in the field of defense

This week in Bucharest, the President held discussions with the U.S. Secretary of the Army, Daniel P. Driscoll. Following the meeting, President Nicușor Dan stated on the X platform that Romania and the United States must further strengthen their Strategic Partnership. He emphasized that Bucharest is prepared to invest more in its own security and in that of the North Atlantic Alliance. He also underlined that Romania remains the United States’ most reliable partner and ally in the Black Sea region, where rising challenges and risks increasingly affect Euro Atlantic security.

The American official also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Țoiu, who reiterated that the bilateral partnership is essential for Romania’s security. In addition, he held talks with the Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, with whom he signed a letter of intent aimed at expanding cooperation in the field of drones and counter drone systems.

MEP Diana Șoșoacă stripped of immunity

The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to lift the immunity of MEP Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă for all alleged offenses for which she is under investigation in Romania, with one exception: a speech delivered in the plenary session of the European legislature in which she praised former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. The request to lift her immunity was submitted by the General Prosecutor’s Office in Bucharest.

Diana Șoșoacă is being investigated for several offenses, including legionary propaganda, promoting the cult of individuals convicted of war crimes, and Holocaust denial. Last week, the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs issued a favorable opinion on the request, paving the way for Tuesday’s vote. (EE)