Bolojan calls on PSD to claim premiership, says PNL will step forward with a solution if Tomac cabinet fails

Political crisis background

The government crisis began on 20 April 2026 when the Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew political support from Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. On 23 April PSD ministers resigned from the cabinet. A no-confidence motion tabled by PSD and AUR passed Parliament on 5 May with 281 votes, the same tally that ousted Florin Cîțu in 2021. Hours later PNL announced it was moving into opposition. President Nicușor Dan designated Eugen Tomac as prime minister, but after more than a month of deadlock PNL decided on 11 June not to back the Tomac government.

Bolojan calls on PSD to govern

Speaking to Radio România Actualități on 12 June, the PNL president argued that PSD, as the largest party and the one that triggered the crisis, should assume responsibility. “We have a party that generated the political crisis, the largest party in Parliament, and under normal conditions it should claim the premiership,” Bolojan said. He added that if President Dan entrusts PSD with the mandate and it fails, PNL will come with a solution, just as it did last summer. He declined to say whether he himself would be the candidate, noting that any nomination would be a decision of the party’s leadership.

“We have a party that generated the political crisis, the largest party in Parliament, and under normal conditions it should claim the premiership. If the president entrusts PSD and they don’t pass, then PNL, just as last summer, will come with a solution.”

PNL rejects the Tomac cabinet as a façade

Bolojan called the proposed Tomac government a “paravan” (façade) that shields PSD from accountability while letting it influence decisions. “The formula is a façade that exempts the Social Democratic Party, the one that caused this crisis. Being in a form of government where you participate indirectly but don’t assume responsibility is not correct — morally, politically or for what Romania needs,” he stated. PNL’s decision on 11 June not to grant a confidence vote was firm, he said, because without explicit political support the cabinet would be “weaker than a minority” and unable to push through difficult reforms. “When such a government comes to Parliament with reform proposals, it will be left alone and the broken pots will shatter on its head.”

Truthfulness over impossible promises

Bolojan warned against the “false expectations” that politicians create. He pointed to PSD pledges such as exempting pensioners from health contributions and broad salary increases as examples of promises that cannot be funded. “One of the biggest problems we have in politics is that through what we say we create expectations that cannot be honoured. When you create an expectation you can’t fulfil, you generate discontent,” he said. PNL, he insisted, will tell people the truth and not promise what it cannot deliver.

“One of the biggest problems we have in politics is that through what we say we create expectations that cannot be honoured.”

Stalled reforms and €6 billion in EU funds

Despite the interim status, Bolojan stressed that his cabinet continues to exercise its duties, especially regarding the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Nine legislative milestones remain, he said; two draft laws are already in Parliament and seven more must be sent to the legislature. The reforms are worth a total of about €6 billion, roughly €900 million per milestone, and must be adopted by 31 August. Failure to meet them would block the funds.

What comes next

Bolojan denied that President Nicușor Dan called him to ask PNL to support the Tomac government, saying “there was no discussion immediately before or after PNL’s decision.” He reiterated that PNL is ready to go into opposition if a future government includes PSD. Parliament is expected to vote on the Tomac cabinet early next week.