- Title: Romanian lawmakers topple PM Dancila's government
- Date: 10th October 2019
- Summary: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (OCTOBER 10, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING
- Embargoed: 24th October 2019 17:35
- Keywords: Romanian parliament vote of no confidence Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila Romanian President Klaus Iohannis
- Location: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
- City: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
- Country: Romania
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002B0IMOMX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila's centre-left government collapsed on Thursday (October 10) after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament, raising the prospect of prolonged political uncertainty due to a fragmented opposition.
A fresh parliamentary election is not an option for now as Romania is due to hold a presidential poll next month. By law, Romania cannot hold a parliamentary vote less than six months before a presidential one.
The opposition now has 10 days to nominate a new premier who will need the approval of centrist President Klaus Iohannis.
The nominee, along with a new cabinet line-up, must then survive a parliamentary vote of confidence before taking office.
Dancila's government had been on the brink of collapse since the Social Democrats lost their junior coalition partner in August.
Dancila said she was calling on Iohannis to name a new candidate for prime minister, although Iohannis said he thought the best solution would be a snap election.
Political analyst Mircea Marian said he thought the most likely outcome would be a minority government led by the opposition National Liberal party that would try to trigger early elections.
The Social Democrats have seen a series of setbacks this year. The European Parliament rejected the party's first proposed European Commissioner because of conflicts of interest.
Their former party leader Liviu Dragnea has been sentenced to prison for abuse of office. Voters punished the party in a May European election for changes to the judicial system that were seen as undermining the rule of law and triggered massive street protests.
Dancila is the Social Democrats' presidential candidate, but opinion polls show her trailing far behind Iohannis, a strong critic of the outgoing government, who is seeking a second term.
(Production: Sinisa Dragin, Lewis Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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