Romania’s former PM Victor Ponta expelled from PSD after announcing independent presidential bid

Victor Ponta, a former prime minister and leader of the Social Democrats (PSD), has been expelled from the PSD after launching his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election as an independent. The decision was made during a meeting of the party’s National Political Council on Wednesday, March 12, according to News.ro.

Current PSD leader and prime minister Marcel Ciolacu had previously stated that Ponta could not run for president as a Social Democrat since the governing coalition, which includes PSD, the Liberals (PNL), the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians (UDMR), and minority representatives, had already agreed on Crin Antonescu as their common candidate.

In February, Victor Ponta was also dismissed from his role as an advisor to prime minister Ciolacu, a decision he accepted as being strictly political after he refused to support Antonescu’s candidacy.

After submitting his candidacy at the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) on Wednesday, Ponta said that Romania was experiencing an unprecedented crisis, claiming authorities had canceled last year’s elections and blocked candidates deemed undesirable by the system - most likely referring to far-right populist Călin Georgescu. He expressed doubt over whether he would be allowed to run, suggesting he was seen as a threat, just like other candidates who had been prevented from participating.

Speaking outside the BEC building, the former PM called for power to be returned “to the citizens,” highlighting “the struggles of those working hard in Romania and abroad, paying taxes, and deserving basic rights such as healthcare, education, and pensions.” He also vowed to make Romania “a home for all its citizens,” including those living abroad.

Reflecting on his past, Victor Ponta said he had changed significantly since losing the 2014 presidential election to Klaus Iohannis. He insisted that he had sought to understand both those who supported him and those who voted against him. He also accused PSD of yielding to pressure from PNL to expel him, acknowledging that he had already been removed from the party once before.

The first round of Romania’s presidential election is scheduled for May 4, with a potential runoff on May 18. The deadline for submitting candidacies is March 15.

Far-right leaders George Simion (AUR) and Anamaria Gavrilă (POT) have also announced their candidacies