Romania's minority government has fallen after a vote of no confidence

Romania was Europe's quickest growing economy for a considerable time, but has been scuppered by the economic crisis. A majority of MPs no longer have faith in Prime Minister Emil Boc's policies aimed at tackling the crisis.

Mr Boc came to power on a centrist pro-business ticket in December. He formed a coalition with the Social Democrats, but they left the government on 1 October after he dismissed a Social Democratic minister.

This is the first time since the end of Communism in Romania, in 1989, that a government has fallen because of a no-confidence vote.
 

photos: Romanian parliament (flickr/dnevill) and Emil Boc (wikimedia)