Romania's parliament removes its confidence in Ilie Bolojan

The Parliament of Romania passed a motion of no confidence in prime minister Ilie Bolojan. The vote was 281 to 4. The motion was called by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians. President Nicusor Dan refused the idea of a snap election and said a new government would be formed from a coalition of pro-Western parties.

A motion of no confidence is a vote that withdraws parliament's support from the cabinet. If it passes, the prime minister cannot simply carry on as before. A margin of 281 to 4 is overwhelming. The two parties that called the vote are the Social Democrats and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians.

The president in Romania names a prime-minister designate and can decide whether to call an early election. Dan's refusal of a snap election means he wants a new cabinet from the existing parliament. He said that cabinet should be a coalition of pro-Western parties. The report does not name the next prime minister.

As a result of the motion, the exchange rate between the Romanian leu and the euro rose to its highest level, and the leu's value plummeted. A weaker currency means it takes more lei to buy one euro. The report ties that market move directly to the no-confidence vote. It does not give the exact rate.

The Social Democrats had earlier withdrawn support from Bolojan's coalition, which set up the collapse. The no-confidence vote is the formal end of that support. Four votes against the motion, set beside 281 in favor, show how little parliamentary backing remained. Pro-Western, in Dan's phrasing of the next coalition, refers to parties oriented toward European and allied institutions.

Ilie Bolojan lost the confidence of Romania's parliament by 281 votes to 4. Nicusor Dan ruled out a snap election and pointed to a new pro-Western coalition. The leu dropped to its weakest level against the euro as the motion landed. The vote was taken on May 5.