FILE PHOTO: Prime Minister Florin Citu attends a news conference after being nominated to form a transitional government, in Bucharest, Romania, February 26, 2020. Inquam Photos/George Calin via REUTERS
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania s ruling centrist coalition reached consensus late on Tuesday to end a week-long policy deadlock that threatened reform after Liberal Prime Minister Florin Citu sacked his health minister without consulting a junior government partner.
A rupture in the three-party coalition which controls 56% of parliament might have endangered the government s agenda to curb twin deficits and fight the pandemic, leaving it without a majority and prone to concessions.
The junior USR-Plus party dropped its previous demand that Citu needed to step down for sacking Vlad Voiculescu, a move the prime minister had said was in response to the country s coronavirus epidemic.
Romania s coalition ends deadlock, to name new health minister
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Romania s coalition ends deadlock, to name new health minister
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EuropeRomania s coalition rocked as PM sacks health minister over pandemic
Radu-sorin MarinasLuiza Ilie
3 minutes read
Romania s Prime Minister Florin Citu sacked his health minister on Wednesday, in a move he said was in response to the country s coronavirus epidemic but which threatens the future of his governing coalition.
Citu said Vlad Voiculescu s dismissal would shore up citizens trust in state institutions.
Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna, who heads the centre-right USR-Plus that Voiculescu is a member of, said Citu had acted without consulting the party and should himself be replaced. His decision . throws our ruling coalition into a major crisis, Barna said.