Consultations with pro-European parties
President Nicușor Dan had consultations with the leaders of the ruling coalition on Wednesday
Daniela Budu, 23.04.2026, 14:00
Consultations were held in Bucharest on Wednesday between president Nicușor Dan and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR), the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and the group of ethnic minorities, all in the pro-European ruling coalition, in the context of the government crisis generated by the Social Democrats’ withdrawing their political support for PM Ilie Bolojan and the breaking of the coalition balance.
This is the president’s second consultation with political parties in Romania, after the one in June 2025, when Ilie Bolojan was appointed as prime minister. This time around, however, the talks ended without a clear solution to break the political deadlock.
The head of state asked political parties to de-escalate the public rhetoric and called for dialogue as the only way to overcome the stand-off. He emphasised that the country’s pro-Western direction is not in question, and vowed that Romania is an operational state, in spite of differences of opinion at a political level.
Nicuşor Dan: “I think that up to this point each of the political actors has expressed their discontent. The question is how to proceed further and, in any political formula, with a majority or a minority government, we will need dialogue between the pro-Western political forces. And, beyond this political crisis, we must assure Romanians that we are a functioning state, with a difference of opinion at a political level.”
Under a political agreement signed a year ago, Ilie Bolojan was to stay in office until April 2027, when a prime minister designated by the Social Democrats was supposed to take over. However, in the current consultations, the Social Democrats voiced willingness to continue governing if PM Ilie Bolojan, whom they accuse of causing the deadlock in the coalition, resigns. The PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu:
Sorin Grindeanu “Unless our positions are harmonised, obviously the Social Democratic Party may go into opposition, and we will not support a minority government.”
In turn, during the consultations the Liberals sent a firm message of support for their leader. In fact, he has already announced that he is not resigning from office.
Ilie Bolojan: “I assured the President of the Liberals’ and my personal responsibility to ensure the governing of the country and to do whatever is necessary to secure stability, to ensure reforms.”
The Save Romania Union leader Dominic Fritz also reaffirmed his full support for PM Ilie Bolojan and for carrying on important reforms for Romania.
Dominic Fritz: “We will remain as part of this government, precisely because we are concerned about the loss of the EUR 10 billion in National Recovery and Resilience Plan funding, and the loss of the EUR 16 billion under the SAFE programme.”
According to the UDMR leader, Kelemen Hunor, a minority government could be a solution:
Kelemen Hunor: “We can discuss a minority government, in which the PNL, USR, UDMR, and the group of national minorities would remain, if there is support in Parliament from individual Deputies and Senators.”
The members of the parliamentary group of national minorities did not make any statements at the end of the meeting. (AMP)
