Romanian President Nicușor Dan calls party consultations to nominate fourth prime minister

Consultations schedule and presidential plan

Romanian President Nicușor Dan will host a series of political consultations at Cotroceni Palace on 5 October 2026 to nominate a new prime minister. The schedule spans eleven separate meetings from 14:00 to 19:00, beginning with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) at 14:00 and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) at 14:30, followed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). Later slots include the National Minorities parliamentary group, SOS Romania, the Young People's Party (POT), Uniți pentru România, PACE-Întâi România, and unaffiliated parliamentarians. Speaking during an official visit to Czechia, Dan announced that he will designate a candidate on Monday afternoon immediately following the meetings. Under Article 103 of the Romanian Constitution, the designated candidate will then have ten days to present a cabinet list and governing program to a joint session of parliament.

Dan explained his decision to convene party leaders following his trip abroad.

I think it was a necessary step for each of us, parties, citizens, to understand that consensus is needed in politics. Under these conditions I will convene the parties at Cotroceni Palace on Monday for consultations, and on Monday afternoon I will nominate a prime minister candidate.

Party divisions and candidate options

The talks follow persistent divisions among Romania's parliamentary factions. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu announced that he holds a party mandate to assume the premiership, with the party prepared to form a minority cabinet. Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, a PNL member who holds Social Democratic backing, also circulates as a compromise candidate. Interim Prime Minister and PNL leader Ilie Bolojan avoided giving a direct answer on Nazare while stating that the Liberals will not propose an alternative name. USR leader Dominic Fritz refused any coalition with PSD, blaming the Social Democrats and AUR for his political removal in Timișoara and urging the president to dissolve parliament. President Dan rejected early elections, stating that a new vote would prolong and deepen the political crisis.

Exclusion of AUR and reaction from the opposition

President Dan stated after the previous failed vote that any future governing majority must exclude AUR to preserve the country's pro-Western alignment and financial stability. AUR first vice-president Dan Dungaciu announced that a five-member delegation will attend the 14:30 consultation, while confirming that the party will neither negotiate for cabinet seats nor endorse a prime minister candidate. Dungaciu criticized the head of state for alienating nearly half the electorate and argued that any newly formed cabinet would operate as a fractured coalition constantly hunting for votes.

Dungaciu stated the party's view on the presidential stance.

The president announced that he will not accept any government that includes AUR, nor even one supported by the AUR party. From this perspective, things are clear.

Five months of interim governance and failed votes

Monday's designation will mark the fourth prime minister nomination since the collapse of the Ilie Bolojan cabinet on 5 May 2026. Bolojan's government, initially supported by PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR, and National Minorities, fell to a no-confidence motion initiated by the Social Democrats and passed with AUR backing. The first nominee, Eugen Tomac, withdrew his mandate before a parliamentary vote due to insufficient political support. The second nominee, Adrian Veștea of PNL, failed a confirmation vote on 22 June 2026 with 189 votes in favor and 23 against. On 30 September 2026, third nominee Siegfried Mureșan fell short of the 233 votes required for investiture, securing 182 votes in favor and 15 against; 321 of 464 lawmakers attended, with PSD abstaining from voting and AUR boycotting the session.