The reproaches of a PNL leader for Nicușor Dan. “I would not support a technocrat prime minister”

A technocrat prime minister will not be able to support a coherence of the government, said the general secretary of the PNL, MEP Dan Motreanu, to Digi24. Motreanu was dissatisfied with the way President Nicușor Dan behaved since the beginning of the crisis, reproaching him for not trying to stop the PSD from submitting the censure motion.

Dan Motreanu said that, during Monday's consultations that will take place at the Cotroceni Palace, the liberals will go with a mandate identical to previous party decisions: PNL will no longer be in a government with PSD, nor will it support a government supported by PSD.

Asked if the PNL would still be willing to support a government led by a technocratic prime minister, Motreanu replied: “Personally, I tell you that I would not support a technocrat knowing very well what conditions Romania is in. A technocratic prime minister is very difficult to support a coherent government (…) Each party will try to impose its projects over the Government's head.”

Motreanu said that there is a risk that the solution of a technocrat prime minister will generate a new political crisis this fall.

He gave the example of Mario Draghi, a highly respected economist who was appointed prime minister in Italy after eight years at the European Central Bank. Draghi lasted only a year and a few months in office, losing the support of Parliament when he tried to push through some economic reforms.

PSD and AUR, invited to the government

Instead, Motreanu believes that Nicușor Dan should give a mandate for the formation of a government between PSD and AUR.

“I saw that in Parliament there is a majority that worked on the censure motion. The PSD-AUR collaboration must be formalized. It has existed for a long time,” said Motreanu, recalling that the PSD tried to give votes to George Simion in the first round of the 2024 presidential elections, so that Marcel Ciolacu would have a weaker rated opponent for the second round

“The motion of censure was made jointly, it is like a governance commitment, like a parliamentary agreement. The motion showed the direction that PSD and AUR want to take Romania (…) If PSD has the very best solutions for Romania, let it take over the government. If you know what needs to be done, why don't you take over the government?” said the general secretary of the PNL.

The liberal argued that the PNL can no longer collaborate with the PSD, given that the social democrats did not respect the commitment made when the Bolojan cabinet was formed to make the necessary reforms to restart the economy in 2027. “The PSD did not manage to clench its teeth for even a few months”, commented the MEP.

Asked if he thinks that President Nicușor Dan “played fair” during the political crisis, Motreanu said that he expected support from the government he helped form.

“I expected him to give more support to the Bolojan government knowing how difficult it was to form this government and what situation Romania is in. I would have expected him to stop the PSD from submitting the motion,” answered the liberal.

Consultations at the Cotroceni Palace

The Presidential Administration announced on Thursday the schedule of consultations started by President Nicușor Dan with the parliamentary parties, for the formation of a new government after the fall of the Bolojan Cabinet, dismissed by the Parliament through the censure motion submitted by PSD and AUR.

“Based on the provisions of Article 103 paragraph (1) of the Romanian Constitution, the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, will invite to the Cotroceni Palace the presidents and representatives of the political parties and formations represented in the Romanian Parliament, for consultations regarding the appointment of the candidate for the position of Prime Minister”, the Presidential Administration sent in a short press release.

Thus, the consultations will take place on Monday, May 18, 2026, according to the following schedule:

• 09:00 – Social Democratic Party (PSD);
• 10:00 a.m. – Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR);
• 11:00 a.m. – National Liberal Party (PNL);
• 12:00 – Save Romania Union (USR);
• 13:00 – Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR);
• 14:00 – Parliamentary Group of National Minorities;
• 15:00 – SOS Romania Party (SOS);
• 16:00 – Young People's Party (POT).

Nicușor Dan: The political crisis will be resolved “rather quickly”

President Nicușor Dan reiterated on Tuesday that the current political crisis in Bucharest “will be resolved in a pro-Western direction” and ruled out the possibility of early elections, citing the constitutional difficulties of such a scenario.

Asked if there is a risk that Romania will reach early elections in the context of the political deadlock, the head of state said that he does not see this option as a realistic one. He emphasized that he does not see any risk of Romania moving away from the pro-Western direction.

“Regarding our internal political crisis, it will be resolved in a pro-Western direction and in a time frame that I appreciate quite quickly. There is no risk that Romania deviates from this pro-Western direction”, said Nicușor Dan, in a joint press conference at the Cotroceni Palace with the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, before the Bucharest 9 Summit.