The shock caused by the strong showing of far-right candidate George Simion, with over 40% of the vote in the first round of the Romanian presidential election on Sunday, May 4, has triggered a large-scale government crisis that threatens the pro-European majority in Parliament. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), submitted his resignation on Monday evening. "The vote of Romanians shows that the government coalition has no legitimacy," he stated to the press. On Tuesday morning, the interim leadership was entrusted to the liberal interior minister, Catalin Predoiu, the presidency announced.

Despite support from the PSD, the National Liberal Party (PNL, pro-European right) and the Hungarian minority party, which have governed together since 2021 and control the overwhelming majority of the country's institutions, the ruling party's candidate, Crin Antonescu, failed to reach the second round of the presidential election. Antonescu garnered 20% of the vote, just behind Bucharest's mayor and former anti-corruption activist Nicusor Dan, who obtained 21% of the vote. This resounding rejection of the ruling parties is expected to lead to the collapse of the entire government, although the ministers will remain in office to manage day-to-day affairs.

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