Grindeanu proposes parliamentary crisis commission as Romania's interim government hits 76-day record

Political deadlock

Romania has been without a full-power government for 76 days, the longest interim period since the 1989 revolution. The previous record was 71 days under Emil Boc in 2009. The current situation began when PSD and AUR passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's cabinet. Since then, the government can only handle routine matters, not issue emergency ordinances or assume responsibility for legislation. On 20 July, PSD president Sorin Grindeanu declared that "Romania is ungoverned" and that state institutions are "paralysed." He accused PNL and USR of forming a "blocking minority" that keeps the country on hold.

Romania is ungoverned. State institutions are paralysed because of this governmental crisis.

Grindeanu proposed a "crisis commission" in Parliament to draft urgent amendments and unblock the state's functioning. He argued that the commission could operate until a new government with full powers is installed, and its proposals would be voted in an extraordinary session. Critics, including the newspaper Adevărul, called the idea unrealistic and not grounded in the Constitution, noting that existing parliamentary committees already have that role.

PNRR laws and EU funds

At stake are six legislative milestones under Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), worth a total of €5 billion. Only four of the six bills have been submitted to Parliament; the salary law and the integrity law are still missing. Grindeanu outlined PSD's position on the four submitted texts: the party supports the administrative code amendment, the ANAF and customs performance reward system, and the decarbonisation law (with amendments from PSD and UDMR). It also backs the Urbanism Code, but with a condition: the transfer of Bucharest construction permits to the General Mayor must take effect only from the next mandate, not now, because the current mayor, Ciprian Ciucu, is under DNA investigation for allegedly taking bribes to issue permits.

We are not willing to support this move now, when the general mayor is a man investigated by DNA precisely for allegedly taking bribes to issue permits.

The four laws together unlock over €3 billion, Grindeanu said, money that could fund motorways, hospitals and schools. The remaining two laws, if not passed, risk the entire €5 billion package.

Salary law and union negotiations

The salary law for public sector workers is the most contentious. Grindeanu stated that PSD "cannot vote for a law that displeases everyone and cuts money from teachers, doctors and the military." He said former labour minister Florin Manole had completed meetings with trade unions, and PSD is working with them on substantial amendments to make the law fairer while respecting the budget envelope. The current draft, he insisted, is unacceptable.

It is out of the question for PSD to support this version. I repeat: out of the question.

Fiscal backdrop

The political standoff unfolds against a strained fiscal background. According to Adevărul, Romania faces €12 billion in interest payments in 2026 alone, plus maturing debt repayments of an estimated €30-40 billion, out of a total budget of €120 billion. Public debt has surpassed 60% of GDP, reaching around €230 billion. The newspaper argued that any salary law debate must start from impact studies and the question of where the money will come from, a point absent from PSD's public statements.

What comes next

Grindeanu said he will continue working to form a parliamentary majority that excludes extremist votes, but acknowledged that without additional willingness from all sides, nothing will change by September. Bucharest mayor Ciprian Ciucu, while agreeing with the delayed transfer of permit powers, remarked that if it happened immediately he would do nothing but sign papers without reading them. Nicușor Dan, another political figure, warned that without extra flexibility, the situation will remain frozen. The risk of losing EU funds looms as Parliament is in summer recess, and it is unclear whether an extraordinary session can be convened in time to debate and pass the six laws.