After consultations with president Nicușor Dan on appointing a new prime minister, representatives of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) said on Monday, May 18, that it will not support another government led by Liberal (PNL) leader Ilie Bolojan. The talks come after the collapse of Bolojan’s cabinet earlier this month following a no-confidence motion backed by PSD and the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR).

The consultations take place at the presidential Cotroceni Palace as Romania’s political parties attempt to form a new parliamentary majority capable of approving a government. They are set to continue throughout the day, with the president scheduled to have meetings with representatives of all parliamentary parties.

Leader Sorin Grindeanu said PSD had informed the president that the party rejects the possibility of another cabinet headed by Bolojan, who also leads the National Liberal Party (PNL).

“The main principles we will not violate are those expressed by our members during the internal consultation process, namely that we can no longer have a government with Ilie Bolojan as prime minister,” Grindeanu said after the meeting, as reported by Digi24.

The PSD leader also said the party excludes the possibility of forming a governing alliance outside Romania’s pro-Western political parties.

According to Romanian broadcaster Digi24, PSD representatives also told president Nicușor Dan that the party does not support the option of a technocratic government and is prepared to assume the position of prime minister.

Nicușor Dan began official consultations with parliamentary parties on Monday as Romania seeks to form a new government with full powers. The Romanian president has said no immediate announcement regarding a prime minister nomination is expected, while discussions with parties and independent lawmakers are set to continue in the coming days. However, he previously mentioned that the possibility of appointing a technocratic prime minister as “a scenario with chances.”

Dan also said the first issue he will raise during discussions with party representatives will be identifying whether a parliamentary majority exists, adding that he also plans to hold talks on Tuesday or Wednesday with other members of Parliament who are not represented by parliamentary parties.

Any future cabinet will require at least 233 votes to secure parliamentary approval.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Inquam Photos /Octav Ganea)