Romania’s parliament has voted to oust liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in a motion of no confidence initiated by the Social Democrats and the far right, deepening political turmoil in the EU and NATO country bordering Ukraine.
Tuesday’s move by the left-wing Social Democrats (PSD), Romania’s biggest party, to join with the far right to file the motion drew criticism that they were legitimising a surging far right.
The motion received 281 votes in the 464-seat parliament. Bolojan’s liberals (PNL) and his USR allies were present, but did not vote.
The PSD quit the government last month and teamed up with the AUR, Romania’s main far-right party, for the motion.
The AUR has passed the PSD in surveys since the last parliamentary elections, sitting at around 37 per cent.
By joining with the AUR, the PSD has turned it “into a significant political player, from a party that was isolated, ostracised and kept on the margins of the political system”, political scientist Costin Ciobanu told AFP.
AUR leader George Simion posted on X after the vote that “the voice of the people was heard today,” calling for “national reconciliation”.
‘Find solution’
Tensions with the PSD escalated as Bolojan, 57, pushed for unpopular austerity measures to reduce the deficit, the biggest in the European Union.
PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said after the vote that Bolojan should resign while it is “the duty of responsible parties to find a solution”.
“I want us to form a government quickly,” he said.
Pro-EU President Nicusor Dan has given assurances that the eastern European country of 19 million people will keep its pro-Western direction, ruling out the possibility of a far-right government.
