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Express (27 June 2018)

Opposition parties have called on voters to “take a day off for Romania” to demonstrate against the government in rallies and marches.

A senior MP for the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) warned of “conflict” if their supporters attend counter protests.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) lost their majority after a number MPs defected to opposing parties in May.

MP and former health minister Nicolae Banicioiu, who defected to former prime minister Victor Ponta’s Pro Romania party, blamed the PSD leadership, citing “the lack of consistency and the continuous lack of professionalism”.

The coalition government will go before a no-confidence at 10am BST (12pm local time) today after it was called by opposition parties.

Opposition party Save Romania Union (USR) are expected to protest in front of the Romanian parliament building during the vote.

USR’s in a message on Facebook said: “Take a day off for Romania and come to the Parliament on Wednesday.

“USR members across the country will be in Izvor Park. Call your friends in the country and offer accommodation for those who need it.

“After the vote on the no-confidence motion against the Dancila government we will go to Victoriei Square.”

Ludovic Orban, the president of the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL), also sent a message to the party’s supporters urging them to attend today’s rallies, local Mediafax reported.

Claudiu Manda, a senator from the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), confirmed supporters of the PSD-ALDE coalition could also attend as he warned of potential conflict.

Mr Manda insisted the no-confidence motion filed by the opposition parties against the government will not pass.

But when asked what might happen when pro- and anti-government supporters meet outside of parliament, Mr Manda said there are two options, “either we can compare them numerically or they get into conflict.”

The news comes as data from the United Nations revealed Romanian are fleeing their country with around 17 percent of the population living aboard.

A 2015 UN report on Romanian migration found 3.6 million Romania live abroad, compared with 20 million remaining in the country.

Romania is in a dire state according to Eurostat with more than a third of Romanians are at risk of poverty and social exclusion

Almost half of the country’s children are borderline poor and more than 225,000 children go to sleep hungry, according to the charity World Vision Romania.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/980203/romania-news-PSD-ALDE-no-confidence-vote-romania-crisis