Romania's Ruling Party Ousts Own Government

Romania's ruling Social Democrat Party, PSD, and its junior ally, the Alliance of the Liberals and Democrats, ALDE, passed a no-confidence vote against their own government on Wednesday, after a week of turmoil triggered by the refusal of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu to resign.  

With all opposition MPs refusing to vote, the impeachment motion passed with 241 votes and 10 votes against. The PSD needed at least 233 votes to oust Grindeanu.

Despite a rule that permits MPs to express a secret vote, most PSD and ALDE members allowed the party leadership to see how they voted. 

The cabinet bench in parliament was almost empty on Wednesday morning, as only Grindeanu, his deputy PM and Telecom Minister Augustin Jianu and cabinet secretary-general Victor Ponta were present.

The other ministers resigned last Wednesday at the request of the PSD Executive Committee, after the PSD leadership deemed the cabinet's performance in the first six months unsatisfactory.

The ruling party decided last week to get rid of its own government, citing its poor performance during the first six months of its mandate.

But, despite most ministers handing in their resignations, Grindeanu refused to quit and challenged Dragnea's leadership.

The only minister who stood by Grindeanu was Jianu, who also accused Dragnea of imposing his personal will on the party.

The vote set Grindeanu, who was supported by former PM Victor Ponta and several PSD MPs, against the majority of PSD members under Dragnea.

Dragnea became PSD leader in October 2015 after taking over from then Prime Minister Ponta, who resigned after being indicted for graft by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, DNA.

He entered politics in 1994 by joining the Democrat...