Romania’s ongoing political deadlock stems from the May 2026 no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s coalition, followed by two failed prime-ministerial nominations by President Nicușor Dan. Under the constitution, the president may dissolve parliament and trigger snap elections once two investiture attempts are rejected within a 60-day window, a threshold reportedly crossed around mid-August 2026. Trader positioning reflects Dan’s repeated public preference for avoiding early polls, given polling leads for the opposition Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and risks to EU funding access and credit ratings. Negotiations for a minority or technocratic cabinet continue without resolution, while the caretaker administration persists into late August. Scheduled parliamentary elections remain set for 2028 absent dissolution.