BUCHAREST – Romania’s parliament toppled the nine-month old minority government of Prime Minister Florin Citu by a large majority in a vote of no-confidence on Tuesday.
Romania has been in a political stalemate for a month, threatening its economic recovery and its efforts to reduce the European Union member’s large twin deficits.
“Citu’s government fell with a big margin, way above the minimum required (of 234 votes)” an opposition deputy overseeing the ballot boxes said.
The Romanian government of liberal Prime Minister Florin Citu was brought down by a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, threatening to plunge the country into fresh political instability.
The result of the vote showed 281 Members of Parliament voting in favour of the no-confidence motion, with none against, as the government and its allies boycotted the poll.
The crisis comes as Romania, one of the poorest countries in the European Union, battles a deadly fourth wave of coronavirus and as Romanians risk huge bills over the coming winter due to spiralling energy costs.
Former banker Florin Citu, 49, has been prime minister only since December after the previous parliamentary election, but has already been abandoned by his centre-right coalition partner and heavily criticised by the left.
The centre-right Save Romania Union (USR) party last month withdrew from his liberal coalition, complaining about Citu’s “dictatorial attitude”.
The left-wing opposition Social Democrats (PSD) accuse his government of “impoverishing Romanians and increasing the country’s debts”.
Florin Citu has only been Romania’s prime minister since December, but has already been abandoned by his centre-right coalition partner USR and been heavily criticised by the left.
Source: Reuters
