Romanian government falls after no-confidence vote

BUCHAREST, Romania â€”  Romanian Prime Minister Florin Citu of the governing National Liberal Party was ousted Tuesday after a no-confidence motion in his government passed overwhelmingly, deepening an ongoing political crisis.

The motion was filed by the opposition Social Democrat Party (PSD) and supported by former coalition partner USR-Plus and the far-right AUR party. The motion passed with 281 votes; only 234 were needed.

The fall of the government caps a political crisis that began a month ago when Citu fired Justice Minister Stelian Ion of USR-Plus for not signing off on a regional development program. USR-Plus called the move an “abusive revocation� and quit the three-party cabinet.

During the debates in parliament Tuesday ahead of the vote, Citu lashed out at USR-Plus, saying he had tolerated “a team of incompetents.�

President Klaus Iohannis now will consult with lawmakers on appointing a new prime minister, while Citu may remain at the government’s helm as a caretaker for 45 days. Citu could be reappointed if lawmakers fail twice to agree on a new premier.

In a press conference after Tuesday’s vote, Iohannis said it was a crisis “generated by cynical politicians� and that he will convene Romania’s political parties next week.

“We are in the midst of a pandemic, wave four has hit us hard,� he said. “We are in an energy prices crisis … but what did some politicians think? To add another crisis!�

Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, told the Associated Press that he expects politicians to create a Liberal cabinet with support from the Social Democrats “in parliament, but not in the cabinet.�

USR-Plus has expressed a wish to restore the governing coalition with a different prime minister.

The Liberal-led government came to power following a parliamentary election last December.

The ongoing crisis could hamper Romania’s efforts to tackle an alarming surge of COVID-19 infections in the European Union nation of 19 million, which is currently putting the country’s hospitals under serious strain.

On Tuesday, Romania recorded its highest number of daily COVID-19 infections — 15,037 cases — since the pandemic started.