BUCHAREST, Romania — The Social Democratic Party (PSD), which holds a leftist stance, announced on Thursday that it has pulled out of discussions aimed at forming a pro-European coalition government. This decision exacerbates the ongoing political instability in Romania, which has been heightened following a top court’s nullification of the presidential election results.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, whose party emerged as the front-runner in the parliamentary elections held on December 1, stated that the PSD would no longer engage with three established political parties, citing a tumultuous negotiation journey that failed to yield a consensus. In a post shared on Facebook, Ciolacu declared, “We will support a right-wing government in Parliament.” He emphasized the pressing need for the country to establish a functioning government to address urgent matters ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections.

Initially, the PSD was poised to collaborate with the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL), the reformist Save Romania Union (USR), and the smaller ethnic Hungarian UDMR party. This coalition aimed to exclude the rising far-right nationalists from having a substantial influence following their significant electoral victories. Without the inclusion of the PSD, however, the remaining three parties lack the necessary seats to create a majority government.

This political upheaval follows closely on the heels of a presidential vote where the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu advanced from the first round, stirring controversy as accusations of electoral misconduct alongside speculations of Russian interference surfaced. A remarkable decision from the Constitutional Court came just days before the scheduled December 8 runoff, leading to the presidential race’s annulment.

Klaus Iohannis, the incumbent president whose second term is about to conclude, mentioned that a new date for the rerun presidential election will be determined once a new government is established. Ciolacu remarked, “Constructing anything sustainable is impossible with partners incapable of setting aside their egos and ideological stereotypes.”

Political analyst Cristian Andrei, based in Bucharest, described the PSD’s exit as indicative of a “crisis within a crisis,” likely arising from the need for stringent economic measures to contend with Romania’s significant budget deficit. “No party within the new coalition is inclined to participate in a cabinet that may need to halt pension increases and public salary adjustments,” Andrei stated. He further remarked that this unfolding crisis could intensify public discontent with traditional political parties and jeopardize the prospects of a pro-European candidate in the anticipated rerun of the presidential elections.