Six ministers from Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) resigned on Thursday, withdrawing support from Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and plunging the country's four-party ruling coalition into crisis. The PSD — the dominant partner in the coalition formed in June 2025 to contain the far-right and stabilise Romania's economy, which carries the EU's highest public deficit — objected to Bolojan's austerity measures, including tax rises, spending cuts and public sector job reductions. Bolojan has refused to resign and appointed interim ministers to cover vacated portfolios, but with the PSD planning a no-confidence motion and far-right parties, led by the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) polling at around 36 per cent, analysts warn the instability could jeopardise access to €11 billion in EU recovery funds and strengthen anti-establishment forces.