Romania's political trap has not been resolved with the new cabinet: the far-right is already poised to jump

Romania's political crisis persists despite the formation of a new cabinet led by Luca Niculescu. The Social Democrats regained significant control, leveraging the far-right AUR party. The political landscape has shifted, with AUR now positioned closer to power. The upcoming elections in 2024 and 2025 are expected to be tumultuous, especially after the unexpected rise of radical candidate Călin Georgescu. His strong performance in the elections shocked the political elite, leading to a constitutional crisis when the elections were invalidated. The subsequent political vacuum saw Ilie Bolojan temporarily assume presidential duties, but his coalition faced severe challenges, culminating in a breakdown due to austerity measures and privatization plans. The PSD's alliance with AUR to oust Bolojan marked a significant shift in Romanian politics, highlighting the fragility of the current government and the looming threat of far-right influence.