An impending political crisis in Romania?

Romania’s ruling coalition, comprising the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, is increasingly fragile

Mihai Pelin, 16.04.2026, 14:00

The Easter holidays are over and there are increasingly evident signals that a political crisis might be brewing in Romania. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Sorin Grindeanu has once again spoken about the need for a political reset, which should change the current direction of the country, which he says is wrong.

In a Facebook post, the PSD president lists three pieces of bad news that indicate an accelerated collapse of the economy, for which he blames the Liberal PM Ilie Bolojan: inflation at 10%, low consumption since February and a revised IMF forecast that halved the country’s economic growth estimate in 2026 from 1.4% to 0.7%.

“Continuing to take measures against your own people is a mistake,” Sorin Grindeanu states. According to information from the Social Democrats, the vote in the PSD in-house referendum, scheduled for April 20, will be for the withdrawal of confidence in PM Ilie Bolojan, who will have until Thursday to resign. Otherwise, the PSD will pull its ministers out of the Cabinet. Around 5,000 party members will vote in the consultation that Sorin Grindeanu first announced more than 5 months ago, in early December.

Asked recently if he might resign, the PM said that he did not consider such a scenario. Those who generate crises must take responsibility for the consequences, the Cabinet chief warned.

In this context, president Nicuşor Dan met with PM Ilie Bolojan on Wednesday. The head of state is trying to mediate and reduce tensions and is also expected to talk with the PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu and with the USR leader Dominic Fritz. The president recently said that he will do his best to ensure that the four pro-Western parties continue to work together.

Social Democratic sources claim, however, that the PM should step down without a parliamentary procedure involved. If Ilie Bolojan declines, PSD will back the no-confidence motion prepared by the opposition parties AUR and PACE.

Under the law, in the event that PSD ministers resign, Ilie Bolojan has 45 days to request a new confidence vote in Parliament.

Romania’s ruling coalition, comprising the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union, and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, is increasingly fragile. The leaders of the four parties plus national minorities groups which formed the government led by Ilie Bolojan signed a political agreement in June 2025, which included the structure of the government, the terms in which the government reshuffle takes place, and the main government directions.

Under the agreement, between June 2025 and April 2027 the prime minister is nominated by the Liberals, and between April 2027 and December 2028 by the PSD. But lately the Social Democrats have repeatedly criticised Ilie Bolojan’s performance, more specifically his inflexible and defiant attitude towards Coalition partners, and thus attacked the Cabinet of which they are also part. According to the Prime Minister, the criticism is generated mainly by the unpopular economic measures taken by the government. (AMP)