PNL leader urges party unity amid leadership dispute, citing past decisions

Ciprian Pandea, a PNL party leader and member of its Executive Bureau, has issued a strong appeal for decency amid escalating internal disputes. He urges colleagues to address their disagreements like a political party, not a public gallery, emphasizing that the current crisis is a consequence of decisions made within the PNL over the last two years.

Pandea's detailed statement, posted on Facebook, serves as both a defense of Adrian Veștea and a critique of how some party members are handling the public conflict. He meticulously traces the sequence of political events, beginning in late 2024 with the cancellation of elections and the extension of President Iohannis's term. This led to Ilie Bolojan assuming the interim presidency of the Senate, supported by the PSD, as the PNL's own performance did not guarantee such a position.

Following Iohannis's resignation, Bolojan became interim president until Nicușor Dan took the oath of office in May 2025. In June, the PNL's National Political Bureau convened, declaring Romania in a severe budget crisis and deciding to enter the government "without any conditions" out of a sense of responsibility. Despite some internal reservations about remaining in opposition, the allure of joining the government, potentially even securing the premiership from third place, was too strong.

Nicuşor Dan appointed Bolojan as prime minister, citing his ideal profile: mayor, county council president, Senate president, and interim president. The government, formed with support from PNL, PSD, USR, UDMR, and minority parties, implemented necessary austerity measures, including tax increases and reforms, to prevent national insolvency. However, tensions soon arose, with the PNL leadership frequently advising against public responses to measures often learned about only after their adoption. In April 2026, the PSD internally voted to withdraw support and demanded the PNL president's resignation. When this was not met, a motion of no confidence was filed, leading to the Bolojan government's fall on May 5.