Bolojan Cabinet faces no-confidence votes
The coalition government in Bucharest must face no less than four motions of no-confidence filed by the ultranationalist and populist opposition.
Ştefan Stoica, 04.09.2025, 14:00
AUR, representing the ultranationalist and populist opposition in the Romanian Parliament, is once again trying to overthrow the pro-European coalition government of PSD – PNL – USR – UDMR by seeking Parliament’s vote of no-confidence. The first attempt came after the Cabinet led by Ilie Bolojan took responsibility for a first package of fiscal measures designed to curb budget spending. The motion at the time was dismissed. Now, AUR is filing four new motions, each accounting for four of the five bills for which it the Cabinet has taken responsibility. The bills further strain the fiscal, health and judicial systems, as well as the administration of state-owned enterprises and the main regulatory authorities. AUR, however, did not target the amendments to the law regulating magistrates’ pensions, some of which limit their amount and gradually increase the retirement age in the judiciary. AUR criticizes what it has described as legislative abuses and austerity measures adopted by engaging in accountability, without debate, consultations or Parliamentary vote. The ruling coalition government has exhausted all its political resources and demonstrated its inability to govern, AUR claims. According to the self-proclaimed sovereignist party, instead of a transparent debate, the current Cabinet preferred to impose laws as it pleases, defying democratic logic and the separation of powers in the state. AUR also argues that this practice virtually subordinates Parliament to the executive and deprives the Romanian people of the fundamental right to representation.
In essence, the ultranationalist populists accuse the government of hitting the economy, state-owned companies, autonomous institutions and the healthcare system. Among other things, the party claims that maintaining the minimum turnover tax will bear down hard on SMEs, while multinationals benefit from special deductibility. Increasing the tax on stock market transactions will destroy the domestic capital market and introducing an additional tax for haulers increases costs and affects competitiveness, the opposition party further notes. The project on corporate governance shows how the Romanian state is put at a disadvantage, even in its own state-controlled enterprises, AUR says. Last but not least, the ultranationalists say that the reform of regulatory institutions in the fields of finance, energy and telecommunications is a hoax. Finally, according to the opposition party, the fourth project, the one regarding healthcare, on which AUR is filing a motion, provides for measures whereby patients will be sacrificed in exchange for budget savings.
The postponement of the local public administration reform has caused additional tension within the ruling coalition. However, political analysts say chances for the motions filed by AUR to pass are slim. (VP)
