Romania’s Parliament approved a new minority government led by independent Prime Minister Luca Niculescu on Tuesday, ending a 169-day political deadlock with 280 votes in favor and 58 against. The threshold for confirmation was 233 votes. The cabinet, composed of 11 ministers from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and seven independents, was sworn in the same evening at Cotroceni Palace before President Nicușor Dan .

Niculescu, a 55-year-old former ambassador to France and coordinator of Romania’s OECD accession process, is the fourth candidate nominated by Dan to form a government since the crisis began in May. The impasse followed the collapse of a pro-European coalition after a no-confidence vote ousted then-Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on May 5, triggered by disputes over austerity measures and fiscal policy .

The new government’s parliamentary support comes from PSD, the National Liberal Party (PNL), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), though PNL and UDMR declined to join the executive. The far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and the center-right Save Romania Union (USR) opposed the cabinet .

Niculescu addressed Parliament before the vote, emphasizing the urgency of restoring full government powers. “Romania needs a government with full powers after so many months of political crisis,” he said, noting regional security threats amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. “We live in an increasingly uncertain world. There is a war on Romania’s borders, and the threats to European security are greater than they were a few years ago” .

The cabinet’s first meeting, held the same evening, lasted under an hour. Niculescu outlined immediate priorities, including a budget rectification, preparations for winter energy challenges, and advancing the 2026–2028 governance program, which includes pension indexation, administrative reform, and infrastructure projects .

European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, congratulated Niculescu. Von der Leyen underscored shared priorities: “We have important work ahead. Let’s create opportunities for people and businesses and strengthen security on our eastern flank” .