Romanian Opposition Topples Govt in No-Confidence Vote

The Social Democratic-led government of Viorica Dancila in Romania was ousted on Thursday in a motion of no confidence that received the support of 238 members of the two-chamber parliament.

Only four parliamentarians voted against the motion that needed a simple majority of 233 among the total of 464 deputies and senators to succeed.

The ruling party, PSD, had ordered its MPs not to take part in the vote. But some PSD lawmakers broke ranks and voted in favour of the motion, drawing cheers from their opposition colleagues.

President Klaus Iohannis reacted to the vote in a speech to the nation, in which he invited all the parliamentary groups to discuss the nomination of a new prime minister.

Making clear his satisfaction with the outcome of the vote, he declared: "The fall of the PSD government is the natural result of society's reaction to the abuses of this government."

In her first reaction after being axed, Dancila said she had no regrets, and praised the government she had led for taking "very good measures for the people". She dismissed the idea of resigning as PSD leader and confirmed that she remains its candidate in the November presidential election.

The main opposition centre-right National Liberal Party, PNL, tabled the motion last week. It charged the Dancila government with politicizing state institutions by appointing incapable ruling party members that have allegedly damaged the economy and the administration, while failing to carry out much-needed investment.

The motion also deemed her cabinet "the most toxic" in Romanian post-communist history.

The fall of the government means President Iohannis will now have to nominate a new prime minister who needs the support of a new majority in parliament to...