Ilie Bolojan

Bolojan was born on 17 March 1969 in Vadu Crișului, a commune in Bihor County, in the Socialist Republic of Romania, as the son of Ilie and Floare. He is unrelated to Victor Bolojan [ro], a high-ranking Communist politician (Central Committee member 1969–1979) and diplomat.^[4] Bolojan graduated from the Emanuil Gojdu Mathematics-Physics High School in Oradea and studied mechanics (1988–1993) at the Traian Vuia Polytechnic Institute in Timișoara and mathematics (1990–1993) at the West University of Timișoara.^[5] He became a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL) in 1993. During 1993–1994, he was a teacher at the Tileagd Auxiliary School.

On 16 June, President Dan hinted that he would appoint Bolojan prime minister later that week,^[27] with the coalition deal with the PSD being confirmed the following day. Under the agreement, Bolojan would be appointed prime minister but would have to leave office for a PSD member in 2027.^[28] He was formally nominated on 20 June,^[29] and confirmed by the Chamber of Deputies in a 301 to 9 vote three days later.^[30][31]

His term began during a period of high distrust in national institutions. The previous two Ciolacu governments left Romania with the highest inflation rate in the EU at the time of the beginning of their term (5.8% in June 2025)^[32] and a budget deficit of 9.3% (also the highest in the EU) of total GDP^[33] due to excessive increase in spending; Marcel Ciolacu had previously ignored warnings from his Finance Minister, Marcel Bolos, about the deficit and inflation.^[34]

Bolojan collaborated with the ministers of his cabinet in order to tackle these two issues primarily by adopting a number of unpopular economic measures, split into multiple packages. In the first package, the VAT was increased from 19% to 21%, marking the first hike since 2016. Additionally, the government consolidated its reduced VAT rates of 5% and 9% into a single reduced rate of 11%, applicable to a broad range of goods and services.^[35] These tax increases were met with challenges: public protests and some limited threats of strikes and a no-confidence vote. Eventually, the measures passed successfully.^[36]

The second wave of measures targeted the public sector: the government sought to downsize the administrative apparatus of multiple institutions which were the subject of unmotivated increases in personnel in the years prior, resulting in higher spending.^[37][38] The numbers of employees were reduced and remuneration capping were also targets of the measures. A pressing issue that has been present in Romanian society for a considerable number of years is that of judicial pension reform. Currently, magistrates and judges in Romania can retire much earlier than many other employees and also benefit from a much higher pension than the average.^[38][39] This was a significant measure that the prime minister sought to implement. Still, it was shot down by Romania's supreme court on 20 October 2025.^[40]

Initially, Bolojan's premiership was met with public enthusiasm; however, the implementation of strict fiscal measures has elicited criticism from broader society. Among his peers, he is regarded as a serious, disciplined, and calculated politician. His governing ability is constrained by the compromises required to maintain the coalition government he leads. In early January 2026, Bolojan described the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela as a "special operation" that was "not usual". He stated that Romania would align with the EU's position and expressed hope for a democratic transition in Venezuela.^[41]

On 20 April 2026, the Social Democratic Party left Bolojan's coalition government and a week later joined the Alliance for the Union of Romanians to call a vote of no confidence in the government.^[42] The vote on 5 May concluded at 281 for his removal and four against.

Bolojan will remain as caretaker prime minister until his successor is chosen.

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