Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation on Monday, bowing out just one day after his ruling coalition suffered a stinging electoral defeat.
The result, which saw nationalist contender George Simion take the lead in the first round and Bucharest’s mayor Nicușor Dan snag the second spot, left the coalition’s candidate, Crin Antonescu, out of the race—and the government reeling.
Ciolacu, a staunch pro-EU voice and head of the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD), didn’t mince words: “Romanians spoke loud and clear yesterday. The current coalition no longer holds any legitimacy.” With that, he confirmed not only his own exit but also the PSD’s decision to pull out of the governing alliance—though not before seeing the country through to the May 18 run-off.
Despite the shakeup, the coalition will likely remain functional in a caretaker role for now. PSD ministers, Ciolacu said, would meet with their partners to discuss whether to continue in an interim capacity until the dust settles.
Notably, Ciolacu declined to throw his party’s weight behind either of the remaining presidential hopefuls. “Our voters should follow their conscience,” he said, leaving PSD supporters to make up their own minds in the final round.
Once PSD officially withdraws, the government will lose its parliamentary majority, potentially opening the door to more political reshuffling in the weeks ahead.
