AUR’s Rise Turns Romania’s Coalition Collapse Into a Nationalist Opening

Romania’s political crisis is no longer just a coalition spat. It is starting to look like a wider establishment breakdown, driven by public anger, falling living standards, and the rapid rise of a nationalist force the governing parties can no longer dismiss. Michael Heaver examines the sudden collapse of Romania’s pro-EU coalition after seven Social Democrat ministers resigned, with pressure now mounting on the liberal prime minister to go as well. He looks at the fierce dispute over tax hikes, spending cuts and worsening living standards, and explains why the coalition is becoming increasingly nervous about the rise of George Simion’s AUR party. With AUR now polling at close to double the support of the Social Democrats, the pressure for a major political shift is becoming impossible to ignore.