Editing Politics of Romania (section)

=== 2016–2020 ===

[[File:Protest against corruption - Bucharest 2017 - Piata Universitatii - 5.jpg|thumb|right|Massive anti-corruption protest in Bucharest in January 2017 against the then-ruling [[Grindeanu Cabinet|PSD-ALDE socialist government]] led by former PM [[Sorin Grindeanu]].]]

The [[2016 Romanian legislative election|legislative elections of 11 December 2016]] saw a predictable comeback of the PSD as the major party in the Romanian Parliament, as most opinion polls gave them an electoral score of at least 40%. Alongside [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (Romania)|ALDE]] (a main splinter group from the PNL), the PSD initially formed a governing coalition under Prime Minister [[Sorin Grindeanu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/30/sorin-grindeanu-named-new-prime-minister/|title = Romania names Grindeanu as prime minister}}</ref>

In early 2017, [[2017 Romanian protests|a series of massive nationwide protests]] (the greatest in Romania's history) requested Grindeanu's resignation and early elections because of the government's secret procedure of giving an ordinance modifying the Penal Code and Penal Procedure Code on the night of 31 January. The PM along with the entire government refused to step down but decided to withdraw the decrees that started the protests on 5 February at the protests' peak.

Approximately four months later, tensions arose between PM Sorin Grindeanu and PSD leader [[Liviu Dragnea]], which ultimately resulted in the loss of political support for the government on behalf of the PSD-ALDE coalition. The PM refused to resign but was eventually dismissed by a motion of no confidence passed by the Parliament with 241 votes (233 minimum needed).

Quickly afterward, [[Mihai Tudose]] was proposed by the socialists for the position of prime minister and was subsequently accepted by president Iohannis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/romanian-president-appoints-social-democrat-mihai-tudose-as-new-pm/a-39428518|title=Romanian president appoints Social Democrat Mihai Tudose as new PM &#124; DW &#124; 26.06.2017|website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref> However, just after 6 months of governance, he resigned from this dignity. Consequently, the ruling coalition nominated a new Prime Minister candidate in the person of [[Viorica Dăncilă]], a former socialist [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] in [[List of members of the European Parliament (2014–2019)|2014–19]] who was also accepted by the state president. She was also the first female Prime Minister of Romania.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42723492|title = Romania to have first female prime minister, Viorica Dancila|work = BBC News|date = 17 January 2018}}</ref> Subsequently, on 4 November 2019, after a motion of no confidence, the PSD minority government was replaced by a minority cabinet led by the National Liberal Party under [[Ludovic Orban]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsd.in/romania-opposition-leader-ludovic-orban-appointed-new-pm/|title = Romania opposition leader Ludovic Orban appointed new PM| date=15 October 2019 }}</ref> Furthermore, in November 2019, President Klaus Iohannis was [[2019 Romanian presidential election|re-elected]] by a landslide (with [[Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania|FDGR/DFDR]], [[USR PLUS]], and [[People's Movement Party|PMP]] support in the second round).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/24/romania-centrist-president-re-elected-by-a-landslide-klaus-iohannis|work=The Guardian|title=Romanian centrist president re-elected by a landslide|date=24 November 2019|accessdate=12 April 2021}}</ref>

This period (i.e. the two years spanning between 2017 and 2019) was marked by governmental mayhem produced by the previous PSD-ALDE ruling coalition regarding their change of PMs as well as their intentions of changing both the Penal Code and the Penal Procedure Code, the Romanian society took to the streets of Bucharest and many other major cities of the country in huge numbers for more than 500 consecutive days in order to oppose the modification of these law packages, prompt early elections, as well as a referendum on the topic of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/cel-mai-mare-protest-fata-de-oug-13-anuntat-pentru-duminica-in-capitala-sunt-asteptati-1-000-000-de-oameni-1734405|title=UPDATE. A șasea zi de proteste, un nou record. Peste 500.000 de oameni au protestat în toată țara / FOTO&VIDEO|work=Ziarul Libertatea|date=5 February 2017|access-date= 19 June 2020|language=ro}}</ref>