Ilie Bolojan accuses President Dan of destabilizing PNL over Veteas nomination

Story Timeline
8 days · 12 summary articles
Ilie Bolojan, re-elected president of the National Liberal Party (PNL) on Sunday, accused designated Prime Minister Adrian Veștea of accepting the nomination without consulting the party leadership, branding him a “weak link” in an apparent attempt to fracture the party. Speaking to Digi24’s *Jurnalul de Seară*, Bolojan claimed President Nicușor Dan had chosen Veștea precisely because he was the “weakest link,” a strategy Bolojan described as typical of efforts to destabilise PNL from within .
The PNL extraordinary congress, held in Bucharest, saw Bolojan consolidate control by installing loyalists and sidelining dissenters, while delegates departed shortly after voting, leaving the event described by one leader as “rather apathetic” . Former prime minister Ludovic Orban emerged as the congress’s unexpected star, overshadowing the uncontested re-election of Bolojan, who ran unopposed after internal rivals were excluded .
Bolojan also explained why President Nicușor Dan was not invited to the congress, stating that Veștea’s nomination without prior consultation violated party protocol . The president’s office has not responded to requests for comment.
The political fallout extended beyond PNL’s ranks, as European Parliament member Rareș Bogdan accused the party of risking its liberal-conservative identity and becoming a “servant” of the ruling USR. In a Facebook post, Bogdan labelled Bolojan a “clueless but aggressive and stubborn farceur,” warning that PNL’s direction under current leadership could erode its traditional base .
With Veștea’s government formation still pending, Bolojan’s remarks signal an escalating confrontation between PNL’s leadership and the presidency, while internal critics warn of further fragmentation. The party’s next moves—including potential alliances or legal challenges—are expected to unfold in the coming days as Romania’s political crisis deepens.
- 3
- 1

