# Romania forms government after five months of deadlock

> Parliament votes in independent PM Luca Niculescu, but the coalition deal expires in six months with no agreement on what comes next.
- Title: Romania forms government after five months of deadlock
- Summary: Parliament votes in independent PM Luca Niculescu, but the coalition deal expires in six months with no agreement on what comes next. Romania ended five…
- Keywords: romania, luca niculescu, government formation, political crisis, social democrats, national liberal party, sorin grindeanu, politics, world, forms, government, five
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/romania-political-crisis-gets-6-month-truce-as-new-government-formed-luca-niculescu
- Published: 2026-10-20T13:54:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: romania, luca niculescu, government formation, political crisis, social democrats, national liberal party, sorin grindeanu, politics, world
## Romania breaks five-month deadlock
Parliament voted in Luca Niculescu as prime minister on Tuesday after three failed attempts to form a government. The independent former journalist and diplomat was nominated by President Nicușor Dan.
## Why the deal came together
The threat of snap elections, which would likely see the populist right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians surge, pushed the center-right National Liberal Party and center-left Social Democrats to agree on Niculescu's government.
## The coalition has a six-month clock
The deal keeping the government afloat expires in six months, and parties will need to renegotiate with no agreement yet on what comes next.The Social Democrats will join the cabinet; the liberals will stay out.
## Social Democrats reject austerity
Party leader Sorin Grindeanu told POLITICO that Romania needs an economic recovery plan, not austerity.

> Romania needs an economic recovery plan, not austerity.
## Grindeanu rules out far-right alliance
Grindeanu rejected an offer from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians to back a three hundred million euro social spending package, citing deep disagreements over Europe and national security.

> Until I will stay in this position, PSD will not have any agreement with AUR.
## Key takeaway

Romania ended five months of political paralysis by installing independent prime minister Luca Niculescu, though the governing deal lasts only six months.