Romanian government to face vote of no-confidence

Romania’s embattled government faces a struggle for survival after the country’s opposition tabled a no-confidence motion on October 1.

The motion is set to be debated in the country’s parliament on October 8 or 9, with the opposition claiming that it already has enough support to bring down the government, led by Viorica Dăncilă. The move has been expected ever since ALDE, the junior partner in the ruling coalition, pulled out of the government in August, leaving the PSD, the senior party in the coalition, without a majority.

“I have no doubt that motion will pass,” said Ludovic Orban, leader of the opposition Liberal party (PNL). “The motion has been signed by 237 MPs, including members of the PSD, who will all now vote for it. I also expect more members PSD to vote with us on the day of the debate.”

For the no-confidence vote to be successful, it needs the support of 233 parliamentarians.

Should the government, as expected, fall, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, is required to nominate a new prime minister, who will have 30 days to form a government. Should he or she fail to do so, another nomination is made. Should the second nominee fail to form a government, parliament is dissolved and in normal circumstances a snap general election would be held.

However, the Romanian constitution excludes the possibility of an early parliamentary election during the six months prior to a presidential vote, and the country holds the first round of its presidential election – which Mr Iohannis is likely to win – on November 10.

This may well mean that a temporary government of independent technocrats will take office until a parliamentary election can be held in the new year.