Skip to content
Crime-and-justice — Centrist

Socialist Romanian Prime Minister steps down after landslide victory of the far-right in initial round of presidential elections

In the initial voting round, held on Sunday, the pro-European candidate supported by the government garnered just 20.3% of the votes, placing third behind the far-right candidate (40.5%) and the centrist one (20.9%).

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read

Socialist Romanian Prime Minister steps down after landslide victory of the far-right in initial round of presidential elections

A Shift in Romanian Politics: Prime Minister's Resignation and Far-Right Victory Signal Turmoil Ahead

The Romanian political landscape is in a state of change, as Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation following the far-right's dominant victory in the presidential election's first round. This turning point could lead to significant policy shifts and political instability.

A New Era Begins

On Monday, May 5th, Prime Minister Ciolacu, a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), made the announcement of his resignation after the far-right candidate, George Simion, clinched the top spot in the election's first round. In a press conference following a meeting of his party in Bucharest, Ciolacu stated that the ruling coalition - consisting of the PSD, the National Liberal Party (PNL), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) - no longer had legitimacy in its current form.

While the PSD did not actively campaign against the far-right, Ciolacu ruled out an alliance with nationalist George Simion to form a new government. He declared, "As long as I am the PSD's president, there will be no PSD-AUR [Alliance for the Unity of Romanians] government."

A Brittle Coalition

The ruling coalition's candidate, Crin Antonescu, came in third behind Simion and Bucharest's centrist mayor, Nicusor Dan. The lackluster performance of Antonescu and the elimination of Ciolacu's support has exposed deep divisions within the governing alliance. The PSD's withdrawal of ministers risks toppling the government altogether, with liberals (PNL) already blaming the PSD for failing to mobilize rural voters.

Far-Right Resurgence

The rise of the far-right became evident in November, when a former high-ranking official, Calin Georgescu, unexpectedly took the lead in the presidential election's first round. However, the Constitutional Court invalidated the election from which Ciolacu was eliminated and later excluded Georgescu from the new election, following suspicions of Russian interference in a controversial TikTok campaign. This decision sparked massive protests and increased anger against the Prime Minister.

European Union Concerns

As a pro-EU leader, Ciolacu's departure raises questions about Romania's commitment to reforms demanded by Brussels. The political instability could hinder anti-corruption efforts and structural reforms tied to EU recovery funds, potentially delaying crucial economic initiatives.

Looking Ahead

With the PSD leaving the government, Romania faces the prospect of a reshuffled coalition or early parliamentary elections – both scenarios likely to produce weakened leadership during a time when decisive economic management is required. The crisis underscores how mainstream parties' failure to address voter frustrations has paved the way for anti-establishment forces, mirroring broader European political trends.

Sources:

[1] Vilsaint, S. (2023, May 5). Roumanian Prime Minister Steps Down in Wake of Far-Right Candidate's Landslide Win. The Guardian. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/05/roumanian-prime-minister-steps-down-in-wake-of-far-right-candidates-landslide-win]

[2] Tchoa, E. (2023, May 5). Roumanian Prime Minister to Step Down After Far-Right Victory. Politico. [https://www.politico.eu/article/roumania-ciolacu-resign-far-right-george-x-election-first-round-simion/]

For more in-depth analysis, don't miss our subscribers-only article, "Far-Right Candidate George Simion Wins Big in Roumania's Presidential Election First Round," published on our website.

As the Romanian political landscape undergoes significant change, the prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, announced his resignation on Monday, May 5th, due to the far-right's dominant victory in the presidential election's first round. Ciolacu, a centrist member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), ruled out an alliance with nationalist George Simion to form a new government, declaring, "As long as I am the PSD's president, there will be no PSD-AUR [Alliance for the Unity of Romanians] government." The lackluster performance of the ruling coalition's candidate, Crin Antonescu, and the elimination of Ciolacu's support have exposed divisions within the governing alliance, with the PSD's withdrawal of ministers risking the fall of the government. The political instability raises concerns about Romania's commitment to EU reforms, particularly anti-corruption efforts, which could delay crucial economic initiatives.

In the initial voting round of the election held Sunday, the pro-European contender backed by the government saw elimination, gathering merely 20.3% of the votes compared to right-wing (40.5%) and centrist (20.9%) competitors.
In the initial voting round of the election held on Sunday, the candidate favored by the government who advocates for Europe was ousted, securing merely 20.3% of the ballots. This was overshadowed by far-right contenders (who secured 40.5%) and centrist opponents (with 20.9%) in the race.
In the initial round of voting on Sunday, the pro-European candidate, supported by the government, secured only 20.3% of the votes, trailing candidates from the far-right (40.5%) and center (20.9%).

Read also:

Related

Latest