According to reports from Maszol, Digi24, and News.ro, UDMR President Kelemen Hunor stated on Monday that his party will maintain its alliance with the National Liberal Party (PNL) and Save Romania Union (USR) to support Siegfried Mureșan for prime minister until President Nicușor Dan makes an official designation. Kelemen dismissed reports of shifting alliances as fiction, while criticizing Mureșan for disappearing from public view over the summer following his nomination.
UDMR Maintains Coalition Stance on Siegfried Mureșan
The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) remains firmly committed to its June agreement with PNL and USR, according to statements made by Kelemen Hunor to the Hungarian publication Maszol. The UDMR leader rejected claims reported by political sources that he told Sorin Grindeanu and Ilie Bolojan the alliance’s lawmakers would back any candidate nominated by President Nicușor Dan.
“We have not made any such statement,” Kelemen said, as reported by Digi24. “PNL, USR, and UDMR have a common candidate, Siegfried Mureșan. PSD also has a candidate for the position of prime minister in the person of Sorin Grindeanu. As long as the president does not make a designation, we cannot negotiate with PSD and we will not adopt a different position.”
Kelemen Hunor Criticizes Mureșan Over Summer Absence
Despite maintaining the nomination, Kelemen voiced sharp criticism regarding Siegfried Mureșan’s lack of political visibility during the summer months. According to News.ro, the UDMR president discussed the issue with Ilie Bolojan last week, noting that Mureșan engaged briefly with the president and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) after his designation before dropping out of sight.
“After his designation, Mureșan gave one blow to the president, one to PSD, and then disappeared,” Kelemen stated, as cited by Digi24. “All summer we heard nothing more from him, and this is unacceptable.”
Kelemen pointed out that while PNL, USR, and UDMR hold more parliamentary seats combined than PSD on its own, the coalition remains short of the 233 votes required in Parliament. He argued that the designated candidate failed to work toward maintaining or expanding that legislative advantage over the summer.
Did you know? In the Romanian Parliament, a majority requires 233 votes, meaning that neither the PNL-USR-UDMR alliance nor the PSD alone holds enough mandates to govern without building broader coalitions or securing support from smaller parliamentary groups.
PSD Strategy and Upcoming Consultations at Cotroceni
While the center-right coalition weighs its next steps, the Social Democratic Party held a National Political Council meeting in Sinaia on Monday. According to Digi24, PSD voted to pursue governance—accepting even a politically independent prime minister—with Sorin Grindeanu as their designated premier proposal. However, social democrats maintained they will not vote for any government in which they do not participate.
President Nicușor Dan is scheduled to invite party leaders to new consultations at Cotroceni starting September 1, with sources indicating the head of state favors a government led by an independent prime minister alongside political ministers.
Addressing potential negotiations with smaller parliamentary factions, Kelemen noted that if Mureșan is tasked with forming a government, he will need to negotiate with splinter groups should PSD withdraw support. Kelemen explicitly ruled out negotiations with the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), stating, “We do not want to sit at the same table with AUR; anyone who knows us is well aware of this.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the prime minister candidate for PNL, USR, and UDMR?
According to statements reported by Digi24 and News.ro, the three parties agreed in June to support European Parliament member Siegfried Mureșan for the position of prime minister.
What is the current position of UDMR regarding the government formation?
As reported by Maszol and Digi24, UDMR President Kelemen Hunor stated that his party will not leave the alliance with PNL and USR or negotiate with PSD until President Nicușor Dan officially designates a candidate for prime minister.
What did Kelemen Hunor criticize Siegfried Mureșan for?
According to News.ro, Kelemen criticized Mureșan for disappearing from the public sphere over the summer after his nomination and failing to build or maintain parliamentary support to reach the 233-vote threshold.
What is PSD’s stance following their meeting in Sinaia?
According to Digi24, PSD voted during a National Political Council meeting to assume governance—open to an independent prime minister via Sorin Grindeanu—while maintaining that they will not vote for any government they are excluded from.
What are your thoughts on the ongoing negotiations and the timeline for Romania’s next government? Share your perspective in the comments below, or subscribe to our newsletter for daily political updates.
Related reading