New Romanian coalition will retreat from reform

Significance

This autumn, bitter conflict between the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romania Union (USR) ended a brief period of centre-right rule, after years of domination by the Social Democrats (PSD). Former army chief Nicolae Ciuca heads the government, which the PSD dominates alongside a much-weakened PNL.

Impacts

• The government may struggle to persuade a suspicious populace to back vaccination, given previous PSD reluctance for anti-COVID-19 measures.
• The pandemic may deter civil society from mobilising against abuses of power to the extent it did during the last PSD government.
• The government's dilemma will be curbing the justice system's independence without provoking a strong EU reaction.