Romanian Parliament to Hold No-Confidence Vote

Romania's parliament is set to vote on Wednesday on a no-confidence motion on the government led by the ruling Social Democratic Party, PSD - a motion launched by the PSD itself.

The vote comes after the PSD's failed negotiations with the country's ethnic Hungarian party, the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, UDMR, sparked nationalist reactions from some politicians.

After a week-long political crisis that led to the resignation of most cabinet ministers and has split the ruling PSD into two camps - one supporting leader Liviu Dragnea, the other supporting Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, who refuses to resign - the ruling party tried to make a deal with the UDMR in order to get support in passing the no-confidence motion.

However, the UDMR's demands have been deemed exaggerated by most PSD members and the opposition. The ethnic Hungarian party demanded the PSD ensure the passing of several bills that it submitted to parliament.

The UDMR asked for Hungarian language to be used by the administration in regions with at least 10 per cent Hungarian population, as opposed to the current 20 per cent.

It also wanted special education and exams for Hungarian students, to be able to use the Szekely Land flag, and to have March 15, the anniversary of the 1848 annexation of Transylvania by Hungary, as a public holiday for the Hungarian minority in Romania.

Although the bills were set morning to be voted on in an emergency procedure on Tuesday, they were all withdrawn after protests from several PSD members and also nationalist opposition MPs.

PSD members protested by posting messages on social media saying that they would never vote to allow the Hungarian minority, which makes up about 10 per cent of Romania's 20 million...