Romanian government toppled by no-confidence motion

Bucharest, Oct 5 (EFE).- Romania’s center-right government was ousted on Tuesday after a no-confidence motion tabled by the Social Democratic opposition won overwhelming support in both chambers of the legislature.

The motion blames the government of prime minister Florin Citu for the collapse of the country’s hospitals amid a fourth wave of Covid infections, as well as for the rise in the price of energy and many basic services and products.

Some 281 MPs and senators voted in favor of the motion, easily clearing the minimum 233 votes needed to topple the government which lost its majority in both chambers in September, when the minority centrist partners left Romania’s ruling coalition.

“This government has lied and stolen,” opposition leader Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) said during an acrimonious session.

“He has borrowed billions of euros but people are going cold,” Ciolacu added in reference to the increase in public debt and the recent rise in energy prices.

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis will call the parties for consultations and appoint a new prime minister-designate, who must then seek the support of parliament.

The PSD has the most seats followed by the hitherto ruling National Liberal Party (PNL) and its former minority partners in the centrist USR-PLUS alliance.

If Parliament rejects two prime ministers proposed by the president, the legislature will be dissolved and snap elections will be called. EFE

mg/ks/mp