PNL leader Bolojan demands MPs drop lawsuits or lose parliamentary seats

PNL President Ilie Bolojan has ordered parliamentarians who challenged party decisions in court to withdraw their lawsuits within ten days or lose their status in parliamentary groups. The measure follows the Bucharest Tribunal's July provisional suspension of all decisions adopted by the National Liberal Party at its June 21 extraordinary congress, including the new leadership and statutory changes. Bolojan said the decision aims to preserve voting coherence in parliamentary groups and to clarify the party's identity. He stated that every member may vote as they wish, but not as a member of a parliamentary group.

The rule applies to any political party and concerns decisions on strategic issues such as local, municipal, county, or parliamentary matters. Bolojan made the remarks after meeting with PNL parliamentary groups. He emphasized that the requirement is not limited to PNL but relates to the substance of any political party.

“I will not be blackmailed. I will not be intimidated and I have no intention of withdrawing any complaint or court action as a result of these threats.”

PNL deputy Alina Gorghiu, who has been in the party for 27 years and once served as its president, rejected the demand. She described the ultimatum as blackmail and said she would not be intimidated or withdraw any complaint or court action. Gorghiu called Bolojan's decision illegal and urged him to reconsider it after consulting specialists.

Gorghiu said she had often spoken about pressure on victims to withdraw complaints and about the difficulty of continuing when someone tries to silence them. She now faces that pressure herself and stated that her right to defend herself against abuse is not negotiable. She added that she would not change her convictions simply because they disturb the party leadership.

The conflict centers on support for a government led by PNL member Adrian Veștea, which led the party leadership to remove several local officials. Those officials challenged the removals in court, won their cases, and remained in their positions. Bolojan said parliamentarians who continue to contest will lose their parliamentary group status.