The uneasy coalition between Romania's two biggest parties collapsed on October 1 when the Social-Democrat cabinet ministers resigned over prime minister Emil Boc's decision to sack interior minister Dan Nica.

Boc's Liberal-Democrats and the Social-Democrats have governed since finishing neck and neck in the December 2008 elections, but failed to overcome a history of bitter conflicts and fought continuously over issues ranging from education reform to civil servants wages.

The resignations come just four days before a general strike by civil servants, while the loss of support in parliament could block the reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund as a condition of the 20 billion euro bail-out package agreed in May 2009.Romania needs the money to cover its massive budget deficit, in excess of five per cent, and pay public sector salaries.

Boc asked Nica to resign after Nica said on September 25 that he feared massive electoral fraud at the presidential elections in November, a veiled accusation at incumbent Traian Basescu, the former Liberal-Democrat leader who is still seen as the final decision-maker in the party. With rhetoric escalating, the Social-Democrats accused Basescu of attempts to gain control of the ministry in order to cover up any wrongdoing.

Nine Social-Democrat ministers resigned after Basescu signed the decrees sacking Nica and appointing Vasile Blaga, a close Liberal-Democrat ally of the president and the head of his campaign, as the new interior minister. According to the coalition agreement between the two parties, the Social-Democrats hold the interior portfolio.

Social-Democrat leader Mircea Geoana, who is expected to officially announce his intention to run for president at the weekend, accused Basescu of engineering the crisis to create chaos before presidential elections. Liberal-Democrats fought back, calling their former partners "hypocritical" and "irresponsible".

Boc has 60 days before he is required by law to present the line-up of a new cabinet to parliament. During that time, the parliament can vote a motion of no confidence. The National-Liberal party, ousted from government at the election in 2008, said that it planned to file such a motion, calling for a technocrat cabinet.

However, the decision to break up the coalition will affect more than just the cabinet, with Social Democrat appointees at lower levels in ministries, government agencies and local administration throughout the countryexpected to hand in their resignations as well.