Coalition government in Romania collapses

Oct 1, 2009, 15:05 GMT

   Bucharest - The coalition government in Bucharest collapsed Thursday, after the centre-left Socialist Party (PSD) pulled out in protest over the controversial dismissal of one of its ministers.

   Dan Nica, the PSD interior minister, was sacked by President Traian Basescu earlier this week, after suggesting the presidential poll due for November could be rigged.

   PSD President, Mircea Geoana, announced Thursday morning he was pulling all his ministers out of the joint coalition with the Liberal Democrats (PD-L) as a result.

   The pair have ruled Romania in a coalition since elections last December.

   Geoana said the president was responsible for the political crisis.

A smaller opposition Liberal party, the PNL, have now initiated a motion of no confidence in the government.

PNL chairman Crin Antonescu - who is a candidate in the November presidential poll - accused Basescu of controlling a 'personal government,' and called him a 'danger to democracy.'

President Basescu has also come under fire after TV pictures showed him dancing with young women at a university in Cluj on Thursday morning, as the political crisis became apparent.

Basescu has a reputation in Romania for exuberant displays.

Prime Minister Prime Minister Emil is now hoping to form a transitional government with a 45-day mandate.

   The Interior Ministry is responsible for organizing the presidential poll, making the post all the more sensitive.

   Romania's economy has been hard-hit by the global downturn, and is now struggling to meet the conditions for a possible International Monetary Fund for a 27 billion dollar loan.