Tensions rise in Romania’s PNL as Bolojan runs unopposed and Veștea threatens legal action

Romania’s National Liberal Party is heading into a decisive congress with Ilie Bolojan alone in the race for party president, while Adrian Veștea is contesting the legality of the gathering and threatening legal action.

The extraordinary congress is being held at Romexpo from noon on Sunday, June 21, with about 2,500 delegates from across the country expected to attend. They will elect a new leadership and vote on major amendments to the party’s statute. The decision to convene the congress received 566 votes in favor, about 85% of those cast. Ninety-seven members voted against and 19 abstained.

Bolojan submitted his candidacy with a platform titled “Modernization with Roots,” the only motion filed by the deadline. “I am running with the ‘Modernization with Roots’ motion, alongside a team that believes in the need for reform, professionalism and responsibility in politics,” he said. “The PNL needs modernization, but also the preservation of the values that have defined its identity over time.”

He said he wanted a more open, credible party that was better connected to Romanians’ expectations and accepted responsibility for rebuilding trust and providing a clear direction. Dan Motreanu was proposed as first deputy president, while Robert Sighiartău was proposed as secretary-general. The proposed vice presidents are Mircea Abrudean, Ioan Popa, Siegfried Mureșan, Oana Gheorghiu, Alexandru Muraru, Dragoș Pîslaru, Florin Roman and Gabriela Horga. Gheorghiu and Pîslaru joined the PNL only one day before the candidacies were submitted.

The proposed statute changes include creating the National Permanent Bureau as the party’s main leadership body and abolishing the Executive Bureau. The reforms would also restore leadership elections based on motions, reduce the number of first deputy presidents from four to one, and establish a National Litigation Commission. The congress is taking place amid an open dispute between the party leadership and Veștea, who was designated prime minister by President Nicușor Dan without prior consultation with the PNL leadership.

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I am running with the ‘Modernization with Roots’ motion, alongside a team that believes in the need for reform, professionalism and responsibility in politics. The PNL needs modernization, but also the preservation of the values that have defined its identity over time. I believe in a more open, credible party that is better connected to the expectations of Romanians.