Romania’s Pro-EU Prime Minister Resigns After Election Setback

Romania’s pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has resigned following his coalition’s defeat in the first round of the presidential election. Ciolacu, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), announced his resignation on May 5, citing a loss of legitimacy after his party’s candidate, Crin Antonescu, failed to advance to the runoff.

The first round was dominated by nationalist leader George Simion of the far-right AUR party, who secured 40.96% of the vote. Liberal candidate and Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan came in second with 20.99%, setting up a runoff between the two on May 18.

Simion’s strong showing signals a surge in nationalist sentiment, raising concerns about Romania’s future commitment to its pro-European path. He has expressed skepticism about military aid to Ukraine and suggested controversial appointments if elected.

Ciolacu’s resignation marks a pivotal moment in Romanian politics, with the upcoming runoff likely to determine the country’s direction both domestically and in relation to the European Union.

CheckDot is Safu , research on CheckDot .