ALDE-origin PNL members to boycott congress, leader compares Bolojan to Lenin

Members of the National Liberal Party (PNL) who previously belonged to the ALDE party have announced they will boycott the upcoming Extraordinary Congress. Varujan Vosganian, former leader of ALDE, stated that these members will not participate in the congress scheduled for Sunday, June 21, 2026.

Vosganian explained that ALDE merged with PNL in 2024, and a protocol agreement stipulated that negotiated terms, including representation in decision-making bodies, would remain valid until the ordinary congress expected in 2027. However, he claims that Ilie Bolojan, the interim PNL president, has refused to uphold this agreement. Vosganian drew a parallel between Bolojan's actions and those of Lenin, who allegedly refused to pay Russia's debts because they were incurred by the Tsar, not him.

This dispute has led to the boycott of previous PNL congresses as well. Vosganian stated that former ALDE members also refused to attend last year's extraordinary congress where Bolojan was the sole candidate for president. They intend to maintain this stance as long as Bolojan leads the PNL.

The PNL's Extraordinary Congress is scheduled to vote on significant statute modifications. These include dissolving the Executive Bureau, reducing the number of first vice-presidents from four to one, and establishing a National Litigation Commission to handle disputes arising from party sanctions. The National Extraordinary Council has already approved these changes with a substantial majority.