Romanian lawmakers have toppled the prime minister’s centrist government in a no-confidence vote, raising the possibility of early elections.
Opposition leftist politicians brought Wednesday’s no-confidence vote in parliament against Ludovic Orban’s minority government.The Social Democrats (PSD) succeeded in achieveing the minimum of 233 votes from a total of 465 MPs to topple the government – with 261 voting in favour of the motion.
The move was triggered by Orban’s annoucement that he would try to change the law for local elections.
The PSD was vehemently opposed because it saw the move as a threat to their chances of success in local elections due in June.
Ironically, Orban may actually benefit from a no-confidence vote if it does lead to early national elections, because his party is currently enjoying large leads of more than 20 percent in the polls.
President Klaus Iohannis must now appoint a new prime minister who in turn must try to assemble a parliamentary majority.
