Overview
- Romania’s Parliament passed a no‑confidence motion Tuesday with 281 votes, removing Ilie Bolojan and leaving his cabinet to govern in a limited caretaker role.
- The Social Democrats quit the coalition in late April and teamed with the far‑right AUR to file the motion, a tactical tie that drew warnings in Brussels about normalizing extremist partners.
- President Nicușor Dan began consultations to name a new premier and said Romania will keep a pro‑Western course, signaling no snap elections and no far‑right government.
- Markets swung on the turmoil as the leu slid to record or near‑record lows around 5.19–5.21 per euro and borrowing costs rose, raising risks to timely access to roughly €10–11 billion in EU recovery funds tied to reforms.
- Analysts expect weeks of bargaining because no party holds a majority, and under Romania’s rules early elections only follow two failed confirmation votes within 60 days, which points to drawn‑out talks rather than a quick reset.