In a significant political shift in Romania, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced his resignation after a right-wing nationalist candidate, George Simion, emerged victorious in the first round of the presidential election.
Romanian Prime Minister Resigns as Nationalist Victory Shakes Government
Romanian Prime Minister Resigns as Nationalist Victory Shakes Government
Marcel Ciolacu's Social Democrat party exits coalition following nationalist candidate's electoral success.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has decided to resign, leading his Social Democrat Party (PSD) out of the governing coalition after a surprising electoral outcome in which nationalist candidate George Simion secured a strong 40.9% of the vote in the first round of the presidential elections on Sunday. Simion, who leads the eurosceptic party AUR, is favored to triumph in the run-off scheduled for May 18, where he will face liberal Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, who narrowly defeated the PSD candidate.
In addressing his party supporters, Ciolacu stated that the coalition had failed to achieve its objectives and lacked credibility following the recent election outcomes. His party had only formed this pro-European coalition in December 2024 after a series of elections, but Simion's far-right party managed to capture around a third of the votes, signaling a shift in public sentiment.
Simion’s rise is attributed to widespread dissatisfaction among voters, particularly concerning the annulment of previous presidential elections in late 2023, a controversy that has left many disillusioned. The European capital cities, as well as Kyiv, are closely monitoring the situation, given Simion’s position on advocating for a European Union composed of strong, sovereign nations.
Ciolacu is expected to formally submit his resignation to interim President Ilie Bolojan, who will then take on the responsibility of appointing a caretaker prime minister. Bolojan himself took on the interim presidency last year amid the scandal surrounding the controversial annulment of presidential elections. The political landscape in Romania is poised for significant change as the country anticipates the implications of the upcoming presidential run-off.
