June 18 (SeeNews) - Romania's opposition left-wing Social Democrat Party (PSD) plans to file a censure motion against the liberal government led by prime minister Ludovic Orban for passing a law extending a nationwide state of alert by 30 days without asking parliament to approve it.
"[...] starting today, PSD MPs are collecting signatures in support of the censure motion that we will submit after the state of alert ends," PSD leader Marcel Ciolacu said in a televised statement broadcast by local Digi 24 on Wednesday evening.
PSD officials have said the state of alert will further hurt the economy and restrict human liberties for no clear reason.
PSD chairman Ciolacu, who has described the government's decision as an attack on democracy, said that the party will challenge it before the Constitutional court.
In order to pass, the motion needs to be backed by 233 MPs.
PSD holds 208 of 465 seats in parliament. The National Liberal Party (PNL) led by Orban has 113 MPs, Union Save Romania (USR) holds 40 seats, Pro Romania - 21, The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) - 30, Popular Movement Party (PMP) holds 16 seats. The remaining seats are taken by 17 MPs representing minorities, and by 20 independent MPs.
Romania has reported 23,080 coronavirus infection cases so far, as the death toll reached 1,473, according to latest data from the health ministry.