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Romania’s Social Democrats propose their own leader as prime minister in bid to avert snap election

By Thomson Reuters Jun 24, 2026 | 9:58 AM

BUCHAREST, June 24 (Reuters) – Romania’s leftist Social Democrats, parliament’s largest party, said on Wednesday they would ​back their own party leader ‌Sorin Grindeanu for prime minister, as parties try to agree a new government after a pro-European coalition collapsed last month.

The Social ‌Democrats ​triggered the political ⁠crisis in early May ⁠by quitting the coalition and teaming up with the far right opposition to topple Liberal Prime Minister ​Ilie Bolojan.

The three other parties in the outgoing coalition say they ⁠will not govern ⁠with the Social Democrats again. ​But that leaves no group with ​enough seats in parliament to form ‌a majority.

A liberal candidate tapped by the president to form a government failed to win enough support, and ⁠if another candidate is selected and fails, new parliamentary elections must be held.

The pro-European ⁠parties ‌have said they aim to ⁠reach an agreement on ​forming ‌a minority government to avert ​a snap ⁠election, but have not agreed yet whether it will be formed by the Social Democrats or by the centre right.

(Reporting by Luiza IlieEditing by ​Peter Graff)