![\"Andrei](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Andrei_Popoviciu.png\")
Andrei Popoviciu<\/p>\n‘With calm, we will get through this,’ Romania’s president Dan says amid government crisisAndrei Popoviciu<\/p>\n
in Bucharest<\/p>\n
It was notable that in trying to help calm the situation, Dan listed all the agreements that exist among the mainstream parties.<\/p>\n
He said that his informal consultations will focus on forming a new administration, and stressed at the end of the process Romania will have a pro-western government.<\/p>\n
Dan also excluded a scenario in which there would be snap elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith calm, we will get through this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He did not take any questions.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Closing summary \u2026 and on that note, it\u2019s a wrap for today!<\/p>\n Romania\u2019s president Nicu\u0219or Dan has urged calm (17:09<\/a>, 17:12<\/a>) after the country\u2019s pro-European coalition government led by Ilie Bolojan collapsed after losing a key vote of confidence in the Romanian parliament (13:27<\/a>).<\/p>\n Dan insisted he would seek to find majority for forming a new pro-EU government in the country, amid pressures from the far-right AUR party which leads in the poll (17:58<\/a>).<\/p>\n But the political limbo could last for weeks, raising questions over the consequences of this political crisis for Romania\u2019s access to EU funds and key economic reforms (13:47<\/a>, 14:18<\/a>).<\/p>\n In other news,<\/p>\n US secretary of state Marco Rubio expects a \u201cfrank\u201d meeting with Pope Leo during a visit to the Vatican this week, the US ambassador said, after president Donald Trump took a fresh pot-shot at the pope for criticising the US war in Iran (12:30<\/a>).<\/p>\n French president Emmanuel Macron has made an unabashed pre-election pitch on behalf of Armenia\u2019s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, saying the country\u2019s destiny lies with Europe ahead of next month\u2019s tricky election (15:21<\/a>).<\/p>\n Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the Kremlin of \u201cutter cynicism\u201d for killing five people in overnight strikes at the same time as seeking a truce so it can stage a military parade in Moscow (10:33<\/a>).<\/p>\n The EU has urged the US to make \u201ca swift return\u201d to the terms of the trade deal struck last summer after Donald Trump said he would tear up part of the deal and increase tariffs on EU cars (17:33<\/a>, 17:45<\/a>).<\/p>\n If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.<\/p>\n I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Romania’s president Dan walks a tightrope as he faces daunting task of leading coalition government negotiations – snap analysis in Bucharest<\/p>\n Back to Romania, tough negotiations lie ahead for president Nicu\u0219or Dan as he seeks to form a new government coalition, after the liberal PNL and the reformist USR parties have vowed to oppose any future administration with the Social Democratic party (PSD).<\/p>\n Romania\u2019s president Nicu\u0219or Dan arrives to attend a summit of the European Union and regional partners\u2019 leaders in Cyprus last month. Photograph: Yiannis Kourtoglou\/Reuters<\/p>\n President Dan has ruled out snap elections \u2013 an unprecedented event in Romania\u2019s modern history \u2013 which would risk propelling George Simion\u2019s far-right AUR, currently polling ahead of all governing parties, to the top.<\/p>\n Determined to prevent that scenario, he appears willing to go to considerable lengths to mediate and preserve a pro-western government.<\/p>\n However, many Romanians have grown disillusioned with the reformist president after what they perceive as a passive first year in office, marked by inaction on justice reform, appointing controversial chief prosecutors and a failure to name heads for the intelligence services.<\/p>\n For weeks, he also declined to publicly back PM Bolojan after PSD and AUR began signalling their desire to remove him. Some have accused the president of colluding with PSD to ease Bolojan out and install a new prime minister who might prove less divisive within the coalition.<\/p>\n A faction of senior figures within the PM\u2019s Liberal party are keen to remain in government, breaking ranks with Bolojan and USR, who refuse to enter into any alliance with the Social Democrats.<\/p>\n One of the senior Liberal figures still backing an alliance with PSD is C\u0103t\u0103lin Predoiu, who held interior and justice ministries through many governments and is believed to have his eyes on the PM\u2019s office.<\/p>\n Dan now faces the difficult task of convincing the two centre-right parties to remain in the coalition. A technocrat government could ease out the tensions, but it\u2019s unclear if there will be consensus on that.<\/p>\n Observers have said that the government crisis was triggered once Bolojan\u2019s government started to pursue reforms that put him on a collision course with Social Democrats.<\/p>\n If Dan manages to bring the coalition together with a more neutral prime minister, it could be seen as an implicit signal for the new administration to steer clear of reforms in these areas.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.08 EDT<\/p>\n EU urges US to make ‘swift return’ to trade deal terms agreed last summer The EU has urged the US to make \u201ca swift return\u201d to the terms of the trade deal struck last summer after Donald Trump said he would tear up part of the deal and increase tariffs on EU cars.<\/p>\n US and EU delegation during talks in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain in July last year. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein\/Reuters<\/p>\n Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d, European Commission vice-president with responsibility for trade, had a 90 minute meeting with the US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Paris on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cHe called for a swift return to the agreed Turnberry terms, i.e. a 15% all-inclusive tariff rate, with the agreed carve-outs for the EU. It would be beneficial for the main features of the deal to be in place ahead of its one-year anniversary,\u201d a spokesperson for the EU commisioner said.<\/p>\n The spokesperson said \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d also updated Greer on the complicated EU legislative process which meant the deal is still no implemented on the EU side with so-called \u201ctrilogue\u201d sign off yet to happen.<\/p>\n This entails a formal agreement between the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament.<\/p>\n Usually legislative agreements and trade agreements continue unchanged between a vote in parliament and the trilogue sign-off, but there have been occasions when amendments are made.<\/p>\n German MEP Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament\u2019s trade committee, is discussing \u201call options\u201d with the European Council tomorrow.<\/p>\n But the main voting block in the parliament, the centre right European People\u2019s Party, is pushing for the deal to be implemented as soon as possible.<\/p>\n With hopes the deal could be implemented on the first anniversary, 27 July, there may yet be hitches.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the meantime, both sides agreed to step up engagement at both the political and technical levels, while also engaging more forcefully on a positive agenda, such as critical raw materials and steel ring-fencing,\u201d said the spokesperson for \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Old divisions emerge as EU mulls how to respond to Trump’s threats on tariffs Meanwhile, old divisions over how the EU should deal with Donald Trump are resurfacing after the US president threatened to increase tariffs from 15% to 25% on EU cars.<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Turnberry, Scotland, last year. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein\/Reuters<\/p>\n German chancellor Friedrich Merz and the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen are pushing EU leaders and MEPs to finish implementing the trade deal with US to avert the increase in tariffs.<\/p>\n But French president Emmanuel Macron said the EU should deploy powers in the anti-coercion instrument which would allow the EU to retaliate strongly against the US.<\/p>\n The laws, which have been dubbed the \u201cbazooka\u201d in the EU\u2019s trade tool box, have never been used before and could take up to a year to implement.<\/p>\n But von der Leyen said that the bloc should stick to the deal, cut last year at Donald Trump\u2019s Turnberry golf course in Scotland. \u201cA deal is a deal,\u201d she said referring to the agreement for 15% tariffs on most EU exports to the EU and near zero or zero tariffs on much of US imports to the US along with guarantees that tariffs on cars would be reduced from 27.5% to 15%.<\/p>\n Merz, whose country is likely to be hit hardest by a car tariff increase, told broadcaster ARD that he understood why Trump hit out on Friday complaining that the EU had not yet implement the Turnberry deal on its side.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Americans have it finalised, and the Europeans haven\u2019t \u2013 and that\u2019s why I hope we can reach an agreement as quickly as possible,\u201d he said on Monday.<\/p>\n MEPs in the centre right EPP grouping are backing Merz\u2019s position but others, including the influential chair of the trade committee, German MEP Bernd Lange, said Trump\u2019s threat was a further example of how unreliable the US president was.<\/p>\n He told Euronews on Monday he was convinced the tariff threat was directed at Merz over his comments to schoolchildren that the US was being \u201chumiliated\u201d by Iran.<\/p>\n Lange said he would be discussing the threat with the European Council on Wednesday warning all options were on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not sure we can really go on. We have the toolbox of possible reaction and we will discuss it quite intensively.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the European parliament has voted in favour of the US-EU deal having twice paused the ratification process, final sign off by the parliament, the commission and the council, has yet to happen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘With calm, we will get through this,’ Romania’s president Dan says amid government crisis in Bucharest<\/p>\n It was notable that in trying to help calm the situation, Dan listed all the agreements that exist among the mainstream parties.<\/p>\n He said that his informal consultations will focus on forming a new administration, and stressed at the end of the process Romania will have a pro-western government.<\/p>\n Dan also excluded a scenario in which there would be snap elections.<\/p>\n \u201cWith calm, we will get through this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He did not take any questions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In his very brief statement, Dan says it is \u201cnot a happy moment\u201d for Romania\u2019s democracy, but recognises \u201ca democratic decision of the parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n He urges calm, stressing Romania remained a stable state, with functioning state institutions, and a clear consensus about the country\u2019s pro-western direction. Dan also references a number of key agreements between parties, including on deficite target, EU \u201cRecovery and Resilience\u201d and SAFE funds.<\/p>\n He says he will start informal consultations on forming the new government, before progressing to formal talks about the next administration.<\/p>\n The president says that he understands the public\u2019s expectations on the functioning of the state and its fightig against corruption, and will have this in mind.<\/p>\n But he pointedly rules out early elections, and insists there will be a new \u2013 and still pro-western \u2013 government soon.<\/p>\n And that ends the statement.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.15 EDT<\/p>\n Romania’s president Dan speaks amid government crisis<\/p>\n Romania\u2019s president Dan is speaking now.<\/p>\n You can watch along in Romanian here, and I will bring you the key lines.<\/p>\n Interestingly, Romania has never had a snap election before. Could we be on course for the first one? Way too early to say.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s see what president Dan says as he plays a central role in the government-forming process.<\/p>\n His statement is expected in the next few minutes, and we will bring you the lines here.<\/p>\n Podium awaiting for the Romanian president, Nicusor Dan, as he is expected to speak amid political crisis in Romania; as shown on Digi24.ro Photograph: Digi24.roShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.02 EDT<\/p>\n in Bucharest<\/p>\n In an emergency meeting following the vote, the Liberal party (PNL) members reaffirmed their stance against forming any alliance with the Social Democrats in future negotiations, according to local media reports citing inside sources.<\/p>\n The decision exposed a split within the party, as several senior figures had previously signalled openness to such a partnership.<\/p>\n The reformist Save Romania Union (USR) mirrored PNL\u2019s position, passing its own resolution stating it would not negotiate any new governing formula that includes the Social Democrats.<\/p>\n Party leader Dominic Fritz said USR is not afraid of snap elections and is open to either a minority government or a return to opposition.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Far-right Romanian leader celebrates government collapse<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the leader of far-right AUR party, George Simion, celebrated the collapse of the pro-European government in Romania.<\/p>\n AUR leads in the polls with 35-37% of Romanians declaring their support for the party.<\/p>\n Simion narrowly lost last year\u2019s presidential election to pro-European Nicu\u0219or Dan.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In a post on X, he said<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bolojan government has just been ousted by the Romanian Parliament. An end to ten months during which the so-called pro-Europeans have delivered nothing but: taxes, war, and poverty. The voice of the people was heard today. Time for national reconciliation!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Yohannes Lowe<\/p>\n Ukrainian Ppresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed Iran\u2019s airstrikes against Bahrain, and the strait of Hormuz, during a meeting with Bahrain\u2019s king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cOur country is facing similar terrorist strikes almost every day, and our people have relevant experience in full-scale defence,\u201d Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. \u201cUkraine is ready to share this security expertise with Bahrain and help strengthen the protection of life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI proposed signing a drone deal and scaling up cooperation with Bahrain, and we agreed that our teams will work out the details,\u201d the Ukrainian leader, who is defending his country against the Russian full-scale invasion, added.<\/p>\n After more than four years of fighting, Ukraine<\/a> has battle-tested drone interceptor expertise and has developed groundbreaking air defence technology.<\/p>\n Since the US and Israel launched its war on Iran on 28 February, Ukraine has been offering its drones and knowhow to several Middle Eastern countries suffering from Iranian drone attacks.<\/p>\n Ukraine says it has now signed deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. In return for its aid to Gulf countries, Ukraine is seeking more high-end air-defence missiles that they possess and that Kyiv needs to counter Russia\u2019s attacks.<\/p>\n Read more in the Guardian\u2019s live blog covering the latest on the crisis in the Middle East:<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\nAndrei Popoviciu<\/p>\n![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Lisa-OCarroll-byline-004.jpg\")
Lisa O\u2019Carroll<\/p>\nLisa O\u2019Carroll<\/p>\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1799.jpg\")
US is being humiliated by Iran, says German chancellor \u2013 video<\/p>\nAndrei Popoviciu<\/p>\n![\"Romanian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7835.jpg\")
Romanian President gives a statement after government collapse and no confidence vote \u2013 watch liveShare<\/a>Jakub Krupa<\/p>\nAndrei Popoviciu<\/p>\n
![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Patrick-Wintour,-R.png\")
Patrick Wintour<\/p>\n