President rules out early elections, to start talks on forming a new government
Romanian President Nicușor Dan announced that he will start informal consultations with various political parties to form a new government. The president also ruled out the possibility of early elections. These statements were made during a brief press conference at the Cotroceni Palace on the evening of May 5.
President Nicușor Dan announced that the motion of censure passed today against the Bolojan Government is a democratic act and called for calm.
"The government was dismissed today by Parliament. This is not a happy moment for any democracy. However, it is a democratic decision made by Parliament. I urge everyone to maintain calm. Romania is a stable country, its institutions are functioning, and we have a clear direction ahead. We will begin negotiations to form a new government. Initially, I will hold informal consultations, and once we have clearer options, we will proceed to formal discussions. I understand Romanians' expectations regarding the functioning of the state, especially regarding corruption. I am aware of their hopes for improvements in daily life, and I will definitely take these into account during the discussions with the parties involved in forming a new government. We aim to establish a new government within a reasonable timeframe. Therefore, I rule out the possibility of early elections. I want to emphasize that at the end of this process, we will have a pro-Western government. We will navigate this situation calmly," stated the President of Romania.
The Romanian Parliament dismissed Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Tuesday, May 5. The motion of censure was approved with 281 votes in favor out of a total of 288 cast. Deputies from PNL, USR, and UDMR abstained from voting.
The President of Romania is required to invite parties for consultations and designate a candidate for the Prime Minister position. This candidate will have ten days to seek Parliament's vote of confidence for the Government's program and list. Until then, the Bolojan Government will serve in an interim capacity.
The dismissal of the Bolojan Government occurs in a tense political climate, less than a year after the presidential elections in which Nicușor Dan defeated George Simion. The government led by Bolojan, supported by the National Liberal Party, has been in power since 2025, following the resignation of former Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
