BUCHAREST, June 21 -- A no-confidence motion by the Romanian ruling coalition toppled on Wednesday the social-democrat government led by Sorin Grindeanu, setting a historical precedent in the country that the parliament majority impeached its own government.
The motion was voted with 241 votes in favor out of the 251 who cast their ballot, exceeding the minimum threshold of 233 stipulated by the Constitution, according to the official results.
Only the parliamentarians of the ruling coalition and the group of minorities participated in the vote, while all the oppositions decided not to vote.
After the outcome of the ballot was announced, dismissed Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said that "I hope today's vote in Parliament will not be a big mistake, as I also hope that Social Democratic Party (PSD) will nominate the next prime minister."
The prime minister stressed at the same time that the major ruling PSD "should stay united."
PSD leader Liviu Dragnea told a press conference that "things return to normality, legality and constitutionality," after the no-confidence motion in the parliament. Earlier, when addressing to the Parliament's plenary sitting before the vote, he accused the prime minister of "clinging to his chair in the most illegitimate way."
Senate Chairman Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, who is also leader of the junior ruling Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, said that the cabinet is dismissed and Parliament will immediately inform the president of the situation, so that a candidate may be nominated for the prime minister office.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Madalina Dobrovolschi announced that President Klaus Iohannis would organize on Monday consultations with parliamentary parties.
Under the Constitution, the head of state shall designate a candidate to the office of prime minister, as a result of his consultation with the party or coalition that has absolute majority in parliament.
The designated prime minister shall seek the vote of confidence of Parliament upon the program and complete list of the government within 10 days of his designation.
The two-party ruling coalition decided last week to topple its own cabinet amid a tense relationship between the leadership of major ruling PSD and the prime minister who refused to resign even after his party withdrew political support for him and expelled him from the party.
Grindeanu's cabinet entered into office in January after the Social Democrats won more than 45 percent of the votes in the parliamentary elections in December 2016.