AUR accuses President Nicușor Dan of authoritarianism after Veștea designated prime minister, demands early elections
Romania's opposition AUR party says democracy has been suspended since December 2024 and demands early elections after President Nicușor Dan named Adrian Veștea as prime minister without party backing on Sunday.
Political crisis deepens
Romania's political turmoil that began in April deepened on Sunday as President Nicușor Dan named a second prime minister-designate, Adrian Veștea, without the backing of any political party. The move follows the resignation of Eugen Tomac, who held the designation for 10 days but failed to secure parliamentary support.
AUR's accusations
The opposition Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) issued a sharp statement, asserting that "democracy based on elections, political parties and the will of the people has been suspended since December 2024." The party criticised the designation as hasty and noted it was made on a Sunday morning, adding that it only deepens the current crisis.
The separation of powers means the legislature cannot be subordinate to the presidency. When it is blocked, the constitutional solution is early elections. Our solution is a return to the people and respect for democratic rules.
Call for early elections
AUR insists that early elections are the only legitimate constitutional path forward. The party declared it would dialogue with all involved parties but that its positions remain unchanged.
- PSD withdraws support for PM Ilie Bolojan
- PSD ministers resign from government
- No-confidence motion passes; Bolojan government falls after 11 months
- President Nicușor Dan designates Eugen Tomac as PM
- Tomac resigns; Adrian Veștea designated as second PM candidate
Background: a government falls
The crisis escalated on 20 April when the Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's National Liberal Party (PNL) government. PSD ministers resigned on 23 April. A no-confidence motion backed by PSD and AUR passed on 5 May with 281 votes, the same tally that ousted Florin Cîțu in 2021, ending Bolojan's 11-month tenure. Later that day, PNL announced it was going into opposition.
