Under the constitution, the Bolojan government will become an interim administration from the moment the vote passes, limited to handling routine administrative affairs. It will not be allowed to issue emergency ordinances or propose new legislation. The interim government's term may not exceed 45 days.

BUCHAREST, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Romania's bicameral parliament passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's government on Tuesday, with 281 votes in favor and 4 against, bringing down the government, according to the parliament's live broadcast of the vote.

The joint sitting of Romania's bicameral parliament started at 11 a.m., with 431 of its 464 members present for the vote. Romania's 464-seat parliament requires at least 233 votes to pass a no-confidence motion. A total of 288 lawmakers cast their votes, with three invalid ballots, leaving 285 valid votes.

Under the constitution, the Bolojan government will become an interim administration from the moment the vote passes, limited to handling routine administrative affairs. It will not be allowed to issue emergency ordinances or propose new legislation. The interim government's term may not exceed 45 days.

The parties now enter negotiations to form a new government. Failure to do so could trigger a snap election.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD), the primary initiator of the motion, is willing to quickly find a solution "to have a government quickly," and "all options are open," said PSD President Sorin Grindeanu after the government was dismissed.

Catalin Predoiu, first vice president of the National Liberal Party (PNL), told local media Digi24 that this situation should not have happened, and negotiations between parties should continue.

Dominic Fritz, president of the ruling coalition member Save Romania Union (USR), said on social media that USR will "neither let the PSD and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) drag Romania back to the past, nor enter into negotiations with the PSD to form a new government."

Bolojan of the PNL took office in June 2025. However, its austerity policies and proposed sale of strategic state assets drew strong opposition from the PSD, the largest party in the original governing coalition.

In April, the PSD withdrew its political support and pulled all its ministers from the government, seeking Bolojan's resignation but was rebuffed. The party then, together with major opposition parties and independents, submitted a no-confidence motion in late April.  ■