Romanian President Nicușor Dan calls party consultations for 5 October to designate fourth prime minister nominee

Marathon schedule at Cotroceni Palace

President Nicușor Dan has summoned all parliamentary parties and political groups to Cotroceni Palace on Monday, 5 October 2026, to conduct consultations for designating a candidate for prime minister. According to the official schedule released by the Presidential Administration, each parliamentary delegation will meet with the president for 30 minutes in the Ambassadors' Hall. The sequence begins at 14:00 with the Social Democratic Party (PSD), followed by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) at 14:30, the National Liberal Party (PNL) at 15:00, and Save Romania Union (USR) at 15:30. Consultations will continue through the afternoon with the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) at 16:00, the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities at 16:30, S.O.S. Romania at 17:00, and the Young People's Party (POT) at 17:30. The final meetings will involve the United for Romania group at 18:00, PACE - Romania First at 18:30, and unaffiliated members of parliament at 19:00.

Fourth attempt to form a cabinet since May

The scheduled consultations mark the fourth attempt by Nicușor Dan to nominate a viable head of government since May 2026, when the cabinet led by Ilie Bolojan fell in a parliamentary vote. Subsequent nominations of Eugen Tomac, Adrian Veștea, and most recently Siegfried Mureșan all failed to secure majority backing in Parliament. Speaking after the parliamentary defeat of the Mureșan cabinet during a visit to the Czech Republic, the president addressed the parliamentary impasse.

I experienced today a new failure of the members of Parliament to form a majority around a government. I thank Siegfried Mureșan for taking on this responsibility, he did it seriously, he came with a governing program, with a government formula.

Nicușor Dan noted that nearly five months of political negotiations have tested multiple arithmetic combinations without establishing a stable legislative majority.

Red lines on coalition partners

Ahead of the formal talks, the president set a strict political condition for the negotiating parties, ruling out any government formula that includes AUR. Nicușor Dan explained that the presence of AUR in the executive would damage Romania's relationships with European Union and security partners, a risk the country cannot accept. He reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the country's strategic standing during the ongoing transition.

I assure Romanians and our partners that we will keep the pro-Western direction and that we will respect the financial commitments we have made.

The president urged party leaders to hold internal meetings before Monday to develop viable governing arrangements. He emphasized that resolving the deadlock requires all political factions to make compromises to reach the consensus needed for parliamentary approval.

Path toward the evening nomination

Alongside the formal consultations at Cotroceni, the president will hold informal discussions with leaders from the former ruling coalition in the days leading up to Monday. Asked whether he plans to grant the governing mandate to PSD, Nicușor Dan declined to confirm any candidate in advance, noting that doing so prior to official party consultations would violate constitutional procedures.

After I have official discussions with all parties, perhaps also informal discussions in these days until Monday, I will form an idea and, based on this cumulative information, I will nominate a person. What is the only certain thing is that on Monday afternoon I will nominate someone.

The Presidential Administration stated that Nicușor Dan will announce the designated prime minister on Monday evening, after 19:00, following the conclusion of talks with unaffiliated lawmakers.