A man waves the Romanian flag outside the closed voting station where Calin Georgescu, an independent candidate for president who won the first round of presidential elections, was supposed to vote, after Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the first round of presidential elections, in Mogosoaia, Romania, December 8, 2024
ROMANIA’S Social Democratic Party (PSD) has withdrawn from negotiations on forming a pro-EU coalition government.
The PSD won the most votes in December 1’s parliamentary elections and provides the current Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Its decision throws the formation of a pro-status quo unity government into jeopardy.
“You cannot build anything lasting with partners who are incapable of overcoming their own egos and ideological cliches,” Mr Ciolacu said of talks with three other parties aimed at shutting out the far right.
Romania’s Constitutional Court this month took the unprecedented step of annulling the first round of its presidential election, won by far-right leader Calin Georgescu, on the grounds voters had been exposed to an “influence campaign” orchestrated by Russia on social media.
Since, Romanian police have conducted raids on far-right activists threatening to take power by force.
A new presidential election will not be scheduled until a new government can be formed.
