Romanian Parliament Passes No-Confidence Motion Against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan

Romania's parliament passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Tuesday with 281 votes in favor, exceeding the 233 required. The motion was backed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians. Bolojan, who belongs to the National Liberal Party, will remain in place as interim prime minister with limited powers until a new government is formed.

The vote came after the Social Democratic Party left the four-party pro-European coalition in late April.

The no-confidence motion was submitted last week. Parliament debated the motion on Tuesday afternoon, with Bolojan addressing lawmakers before the vote took place. Bolojan said on May 5, 2026: "It is cynical, because it does not take into account the context in which we find ourselves.

I assumed the position of prime minister, being aware that it comes with enormous pressure and that I would not receive applause from the citizens.

Alliance for the Unity of Romanians leader George Simion said after the vote: "We assume the future of this country, a future government and restore the hope of the Romanians. Romania must go back to the vote of the Romanians." Simion had earlier criticized the government for delivering "taxes, war and poverty" instead of water, food and energy.

The coalition government took office in June 2025. A power-sharing agreement had provided for the prime minister position to rotate to a Social Democratic Party leader in 2027, with general elections scheduled for 2028. The Social Democratic Party has ruled out forming a government with the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians.

President Nicușor Dan is expected to begin consultations with parliamentary parties to identify a new majority. The process could take weeks. No new prime minister candidate had been named as of Tuesday evening.