Romania’s pro-EU government toppled as coalition talks begin

Romania’s minority government led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was ousted by a May 5 no-confidence vote, with 281 of 465 lawmakers backing the motion, which was driven by the PSD and the nationalist AUR. Bolojan’s cabinet will stay on in an interim role while President Nicusor Dan brokers a new pro-EU majority, potentially via negotiations among the four former coalition parties or a technocratic prime minister. Snap elections are unlikely, given constitutional constraints and a political desire to avoid boosting the far right. The shake-up comes as Bucharest presses reforms to unlock about €11 billion in EU funds and continues to balanceUkraine-related policy amid domestic Euroscepticism.