Romanian socialists and far right topple government – POLITICO

Romania’s centrist government collapsed on Tuesday, throwing one of Europe’s most strategically important countries into turmoil at a critical time. 

Center-right Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who heads the National Liberal Party, lost a confidence vote in the country’s parliament after only 10 months in office, bringing his short-lived and unpopular attempt to rein in the country’s budget deficit to an abrupt end. 

The European Union’s sixth most populous country — and a key NATO member bordering Ukraine — now faces an uncertain future as it seeks to stave off the threat of an economic crisis in the months ahead.