Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation as leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) following a poor showing in the first round of the presidential elections on November 24. Ciolacu finished in third place, behind Elena Lasconi of the reformist USR party and independent Călin Georgescu. This marks a historic loss for the PSD, as it is the first time since the 1989 Revolution that the party will not have a candidate in the second round. Ciolacu confirmed he would remain prime minister until after the parliamentary elections on December 1 but would not seek re-election as PSD leader.
Similarly, Nicolae Ciucă, the president of the National Liberal Party (PNL), also faced intense pressure after securing only 8.7% of the vote, a historic low for the party. Both Ciolacu and Ciucă’s defeats have prompted calls for leadership changes within their parties, with PNL members like Dan Vîlceanu demanding a complete reshuffle of leadership and a withdrawal from the governing coalition. The election results also surprised many, with independent candidate Georgescu finishing first, followed by USR’s Lasconi in second. The poor performance of both major parties reflects a shift in Romanian voter sentiment, with lesser-known candidates gaining traction.
