Romanian parties PSD and PNL intensify clash over prime‑minister appointment

Political attacks between Romania’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) and National Liberal Party (PNL) escalated over the weekend as both sides disputed the nomination of a new prime minister. PSD continues to push former premier Sorin Grindeanu, while PNL backs europarliamentary member Siegfried Mureșan and refuses to support Grindeanu without a reciprocal agreement with USR. The right‑wing AUR also demands its own prime‑minister proposal, and the Hungarian minority party UDMR warned that a stable government requires flexible positions. President Nicușor Dan said he will hold consultations once a parliamentary majority is secured.

PNL vice‑president Dan Motreanu added a fictional “Constantin Toma” scenario, imagining a secret midnight appointment of a PSD mayor as prime minister, to illustrate what he called PNL’s forced support of a PSD‑imposed government. PSD secretary‑general Claudiu Manda dismissed the scenario, accusing PNL of desperation for positions and emphasizing the party’s focus on national projects such as the PNRR and Safe program.