Romanian PM ousted in no-confidence vote

Romania's ruling leftists overwhelmingly voted to oust Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu's six-month-old government on Wednesday, opening the way for a new cabinet with a comfortable parliament majority over the next few weeks.

Lawmakers voted 241-7 against Grindeanu in a no-confidence motion, a week after his ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) and a coalition partner withdrew their support from him, accusing him of failing to roll out a range of programmes.

Grindeanu lost the censure motion by only eight votes.

The prime minister was involved in a power struggle with party leader Liviu Dragnea, who was barred from office after a conviction for voter fraud.

The PSD won elections in December only a year after losing power. Within weeks, protests erupted across the country over a decree seen as weakening anti-corruption measures.

Romania is seen as one of the European Union's most corrupt states and Brussels has kept its justice system under special monitoring since it joined the bloc in 2007.

In February, the EU warned the government in Bucharest against "backtracking" in its efforts against corruption.

Although Grindeanu withdrew the decree, the crisis weakened the new government and soured relations between the prime minister and Dragnea.

The prime minister's internal critics complained that he had failed to make progress on the majority of the government's promises.

Dragnea, while being the power behind the left-wing party's throne, cannot take power because he was given a suspended jail term for vote rigging and also faces trial for alleged abuse of office.

His first choice as prime minister, Sevil Shhaideh, was turned down by President Klaus Iohannis in December.

The PSD and its junior coalition partner ALDE are expected to nominate a replacement for Grindeanu later in the week.