PNL says PSD is preparing to suspend President Nicușor Dan, PSD denies it

Liberal allegations

Alexandru Muraru, vice president of the National Liberal Party (PNL), told RFI on Friday that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) is preparing to suspend President Nicușor Dan. He linked the move to an initiative by the far-right AUR to collect the 155 parliamentary signatures needed to start a suspension procedure, and said 18 votes are still missing for the suspension.

We are very worried about another matter that has been set in motion in recent days, namely an operation that resembles what happened in November 2024, and we believe the PSD is preparing the suspension of Nicușor Dan.

Muraru argued that PSD leaders have never publicly backed a suspension, yet have chosen not to sanction MPs who signed. He said the signatures mark a sharp shift from the party's earlier distancing from AUR to concrete cooperation against the head of state.

This tolerance is very evident and has political consequences, showing that this is a plan approved by the party leadership.

Signatures and named MPs

According to the AUR page dedicated to the suspension, two PSD deputies appear as having signed the procedure: Voicu Vușcan (PSD Alba) and Dorin Popa (PSD Argeș). Lucian Morar, a PSD deputy, has announced in Parliament what he called a personal initiative for the suspension. He appeared alongside an AUR leader but insisted the move was separate from AUR, and he is described as the third PSD parliamentarian seeking the suspension after Popa and Vușcan. The AUR tally listed 119 parliamentarians so far, against the 155 signatures required to launch the process. Muraru said the signatures would be gathered for AUR and other extremist formations within a few months with PSD help.

PSD rejects the scenario

Claudiu Manda, PSD general secretary and MEP, rejected the scenario on Friday, 9 October, in a Facebook post. He wrote that the idea of a new crisis could only be born in the minds of those who want to prolong the current one.

Stop the scenarios! The suspension of President Nicușor Dan is not part of the PSD agenda.

Manda accused the PNL of obsessive rhetoric and said the liberals had been left alone in the interim government, while people across the country said the country was heading in the wrong direction. He said Romania had fallen from second place in economic growth in the European Union to the bottom of the ranking, and that more firms had entered insolvency and purchasing power had been eroded.

We are concerned with forming a functional government, with the stability and credibility of Romania and with the recovery of the economy.

Government formation

Manda said President Nicușor Dan has designated a prime minister and that finding a governing solution is now the duty of all parties that received a mandate. He said parties that called for austerity and sacrifices must take responsibility for the policies they supported. RFI reported that the designated premier is holding talks with parties to secure a majority. The liberals said they would not return to government with the PSD but would vote investiture for the Niculescu cabinet.