Former Romanian PM calls for president’s impeachment amid deepening crisis

Former Romanian prime minister Ludovic Orban has called for the impeachment of President Nicușor Dan as Romania grapples with a deepening political crisis.

In a post on Facebook, Orban accused the president of failing to represent the public and warned that he would support efforts to remove him from office, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“You no longer represent me. Do not be surprised if I begin to regard you as the greatest threat to democracy in Romania. And I will act accordingly. That is, I will support the idea that it is necessary to remove you from office,” Orban wrote.

The former premier also criticized the Romanian parliament’s decision to reject the appointment of Adrian Veștea, President Dan’s nominee for prime minister. Orban described the proposed cabinet members as “traitors” who had been consigned to “the dustbin of history.” 

Romania’s political turmoil began on April 20, when the Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew its support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and pulled its ministers from the government. The party objected to a number of austerity measures introduced by the administration and argued that meaningful dialogue among members of the ruling coalition had broken down.

Following the PSD’s withdrawal, the government assumed caretaker status, limiting its powers. An attempt by European Parliament member Eugen Tomac to form a technocratic government subsequently failed.

President Dan then tasked Adrian Veștea, the former first deputy chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), with forming a new cabinet. However, parliament declined to approve the proposed government.

In the wake of the vote, Romanian media have speculated that the country could move toward the formation of a minority government or face early parliamentary elections.

By Vafa Guliyeva