The last day to submit candidacies for the headship of the PSD. So far, Sorin Grindeanu has no opponent
Sorin Grindeanu makes press statements at the end of the BPN PSD meeting, Bucharest, August 18, 2025. Inquam Photos / Mălina Norocea
Monday is the last day when the social democrats who want to run against Sorin Grindeanu can officially submit their candidacy. So far, Grindeanu is the only candidate for PSD president, after Titus Corlățean announced that he is retiring.
The congress in which the social democrats will choose their new leadership and, implicitly, the new president was scheduled for November 7. Until today, October 20, PSD members can submit their candidacies to enter the party leadership race.
So far, the only announced candidate is Sorin Grindeanu, who became interim president of the PSD after the resignation of Marcel Ciolacu on May 20 and hopes to become president with full powers of the party.
The retirement of Titus Corlățean
Last week Monday, on the day the day of the congress was set, Titus Corlățean, who represents the more conservative voices in the PSD, announced that he was withdrawing from the race.
In the message in which he announced his withdrawal, Corlățean criticized the party and said that the project proposed by him and the team supporting him “is not feasible”.
“I entered this competition with the conviction that we can change things, that we can build a serious, professional team capable of restoring hope to this party. But the reality is different. PSD has become a space dominated by transactions, fears and personal calculations. There is no more courage, real debate or desire for reform. I met many colleagues who agreed with me, but too few were willing to get involved openly”, said Corlățean on facebook.
Titus Corlățean withdraws from the race for PSD leadership: “Our renewal project is not feasible. PSD has become a space dominated by transactions, fears and personal calculations”
Next steps
Sorin Grindeanu is also going to announce the team with which he is asking for the vote for the leadership of the party and with which, by November 4, he must draw up a political program.
Claudia Manda will run for the position of general secretary in the PSD. In the last six years, Paul Stănescu held this post.
Grindeanu must also elect 5 first vice-presidents and 20 vice-presidents, 4 more than now.
According to some sources, the 5 positions of vice-presidents will be occupied by MEP Victor Negrescu, Minister of Energy Bogdan Ivan, Ionuț Pucheanu, mayor of Galaţi, Corneliu Ștefan, president of CJ Dâmbovița and Marius Oprescu, president of CJ Olt, close to Paul Stănescu.
According to HotNews and Gheorghe Șoldan, the president of the CJ Suceava, Daniel Băluță, the mayor of District 4 in the capital, the MEP Gabriela Firea, Adrian Gâdea, the president of the CJ Teleorman and the MEP Dragoș Benea will also be part of the team.
