Romanian parliament overthrows Liberal government of Ludovic Orban

In place for barely three months, the minority Liberal government of Ludovic Orban was overthrown Wednesday, February 5 by the Romanian Parliament. “The Orban government has been dismissed, it is a big step for democracy”, announced Marcel Ciolacu, president of the Chamber of Deputies and leader of the Social Democrats (PSD, opposition) behind a censure motion voted by 261 elected officials, out of a total of 465.

“We lost a battle but, for Romania, we will win the next round”replied Mr. Orban, 56, from the National Liberal Party (PNL, center right), according to whom “The government has fallen upright”. President Klaus Iohannis, also from the PNL, is now called upon to appoint a new prime minister. The PNL immediately announced that it would hold consultations with the head of state on Thursday to decide on its strategy.

Contested electoral reform

Appointed Prime Minister in November, after the overthrow of the social democratic government of Viorica Dancila by a censure motion, Mr. Orban hopes to be reappointed head of government by Mr. Iohannis. “I am confident: the president will appoint a prime minister who meets Romanians’ expectations”, did he declare. But the resignation of his government could also pave the way for early elections.

A draft amendment is at the origin of this new political crisis in this member country of the European Union. Six months before the municipal elections, the Liberals wanted to reform the electoral law to restore a two-round voting system. Analysts said the PSD could have lost half of the 1,700 or so mayors it currently has in the ballot because center-right candidates could have teamed up against it between the two rounds.

The PSD is losing ground and is paying the price for a controversial justice overhaul launched in 2017, which has sparked protests on an unprecedented scale in Romania. According to a poll published Monday, the Social Democrats dropped to 20% of voting intentions, against 45% in the legislative elections of 2016. The Liberals, however, are on the rise: boosted by the re-election of Mr. Iohannis in November, they are credited with 47%. Their voting intentions have doubled in four years.

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