The swords in Romanian politics are sharpened. The parties are preparing for the internal battles of leadership: “They will be the most intense struggle”

The cough on the presidential ballots did not dry well, that the main parties are already preparing for a new battle. Only, this time, this is an internal election campaign, given that these parties will soon choose their new leaders. The political scientist Alexandru Volacu explains, in an analysis for “Adevărul”, where the great battles will be given.

Nicușor Dan and Marcel Ciolacu in an older meeting. Photo: Bucharest City Hall

The clash in the election campaign, when each of the big parties has supported either their own candidates or the agreed, has ended, and from now on the blood negotiations are prepared for the future government. However, it will not be the only internal political activity at all. At least three of the main parties in the Romanian Parliament are preparing to choose their new boss, given that the electoral wars of 2024 and 2025 have left deep scars and caused the resignations at the top.

The political scientist Alexandru Volacu, a lecturer at the University of Bucharest, talks about the existing situation and about the internal battles that are foreshadowed inside the PSD, PNL and USR.

(Re) Romania enters the sign of the political circus

“The first priority will be at the moment, I think, the constitution of the Government, but that does not mean that the internal competition from these parties will be delayed”Says Volacu.

The PSD is the most affected party, after the premiere for his post-December history, he had no representative in the 2nd of the present election.

Former Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned, after repeated failures. Social-democrats are more divided than ever, and not few are political analysts who expect things to complicate, and the fight between factions lead to an implosion of the party.

There will be a struggle between the pro-European factions of the PSD and the conservative ones, which would prefer a gold alliance or anyway they would like the party to go into the opposition. In fact, although the PSD also had in the Parliamentary elections resulting with far below expectations, it remains the most important party in the Parliament of Romania, and any Government idea must at least take into account. It remains to be seen whether the Social Democrats would accept a collaboration with the USR and, last but not least, if they would not accept the prime minister.

“Of course, it will depend very, very much, very much on what will intend to do PSD. Because I am convinced that Nicușor Dan would agree with the nomination, perhaps, of a prime minister from the PSD. Of course, probably, most likely, he will be Prime Minister Bolojan, if PSD agrees with this formula. But it is clear that there will be negotiations for all things. Nicușor Dan I think he will prefer a stable government, with a parliamentary majority, or rather a center-right. This remains to be seen and remains to be seen inside the parties, what they want to do. Because, of course, the PSD also has the option of not entering the government. Somehow the idea of ​​Ciolacu also expressed, if there is somehow a loss of legitimacy after the results in the presidential elections it would be necessary to leave the governance of others.”, Says Volacu.

In this case, the PSD would wait for the future elections, when they could take advantage of the erosion of a possible PNL – USR – gold.

“The problem is that the idea of ​​not having access to government resources, for a long time, may not necessarily be to the liking of many in the PSD, and they will put pressure to enter the government. On the other hand, others believe it is better to stay away in these hard years and to return to the next one,“He adds.

Battle for PSD, the most complicated

The internal struggle in the PSD is interesting, and several groups have put their eyes on Marcel Ciolacu's chair, but so far they have not acted directly. But the moment of a confrontation cannot be far away.

“Here, yes, indeed, it will be an intense internal struggle. And we do not go wrong if we say that in this party, that it will be the most intense fight among all. It will be one of the key issues in the next period. Because they will probably be two big camps rather, maybe some secondary, smaller. Somehow they were split, in a sense, already from the elections. I mean, some divisions were seen there. And it depends a lot how they see a strategy, what kind of electorate are interested in further capturing, what kind of relationship they want to have, at European level, in the Social-Democratic Party. Because, of course, now it would be a very good moment of reform, to say, the transfer of power to this pro-Western faction in the PSD, and here I think of people like Victor Negrescu or Victoria Stoiciu, I also remember Alfred Simonis, who are not necessarily leaders with great power so far, but who have supported him on the 2nd. Nicușor Dan. These people, but also others in the PSD have very high credibility at European level. With them, the PSD would modernize, reform, which would make the party win and have a young electorate and be even better seen in Europe”, Points out Volacu.

On the other hand, there is also the possibility that a part of the party will pass in Victor Ponta's camp, which, it is known, has many supporters in the PSD camp.

“It is possible to see a pro-Ponta faction in winning. Regarding it, it seems that his political movements between tour 1 and tour 2 went in this direction, towards a kind of new political construction, rather conservative, probably more social-democratic, but conservative from the point of view, to say, culturally or socially”considers Alexandru Volacu.

Tandem Bolojan – Ciucu would be invincible in PNL

Beyond, at the former PSD coalition colleagues, at PNL, the Bolojan wing seems to have definitely won the party. Interim President Cătălin Predoiu will make the transition to the new leadership, and Ilie Bolojan and his supporters have a great chance to stay at the head of the party.

“After the very weak results from the elections, I think there is the prospect of restoring the party's image. I would see a Bolojan – Ciprian Ciucu leadership, who, of course, if you run for the elections for the Bucharest City Hall, has very high chances. In fact, Ciucu I think is leaving with the first chance, categorically, if you run. And then, with a prime minister and a capital mayor already could show the party otherwise. And around them to create a kind of emulation that will lead to the regaining of the Liberal electorate. Or at least will wash from the image of the party that was quite damaged by Klaus Iohannis and it necessarily needs an image boost”, Says Volacu.

This does not mean that Bolojan and his have no rivals. The group of Rareș Bogdan, as well as other liberal factions, is waiting for a possible moment to speculate, even if at this time he displays a monolithic unit.

“At the first signs of the weakness of the leadership, if they smell of blood, the liberal factions will fight for life and death. But now it is apparent, and no one dares to challenge Ilie Bolojan's position. To see until”says the expert.

But even if they will gather the relationships with USR, the Liberals cannot get rid of their older allies, the PSD.

“They have no choice, the Liberals, but not only them, they need PSD to be able to govern. It is simple. Without PSD, there is no majority. So they must have good relationships to constitute a government together, or have good relations to convince the PSD to support a minority government“Adds the political scientist.

The eternal and fascinating drula cannot lose USR

Another important party that will have to choose a leader is USR. After the Drulă group beheaded Elena Lasconi in full election campaign, she seems to have secured her future head. With Dominic Fritz interim president, USR will certainly be part of the government, but it remains to be seen how he will be able to collaborate with the big “enemies” from PNL and PSD and what will do with the dissidents who have claimed in recent years the “dictatorship” of the group led by the shade. In fact, the same group led USR to collapse to local and European Parliamentary elections, when Cătălin Dula was forced to resign, and Elena Lasconi came to power. But the perception was that the entire Drulă group led the party permanently.

“In the USR I do not think there is a lot of suspense. Those who opposed Drulă either left the party or have been removed. So I do not see a very sharp fight. Of course, now Fritz is president, but he has good relations with Cătălin Drulă, and that recommends that we remain in power.”, Concludes Alexandru Volacu.