Romania's parliament toppled the nine-month old minority government of Prime Minister Florin Citu by a large majority in a vote of no-confidence on Tuesday, threatening to plunge the country into fresh political instability. 

The motion was passed by 281 votes in favor, much more than the required minimum of 234, or 50 percent plus one in the 467-seat bicameral parliament. The government and its allies boycotted the poll. 

The crisis comes as Romania battles a deadly fourth wave of the COVID-19 outbreak and as Romanians risk huge bills over the coming winter due to spiraling energy costs.  

Former banker Citu, 49, has been prime minister only since December after the previous parliamentary election, but has already been abandoned by its center-right coalition partner and heavily criticized by the left.  

The center-right Save Romania Union (USR) party last month withdrew from his liberal coalition, complaining about Citu's "dictatorial attitude." The left-wing opposition Social Democrats (PSD) accuses his government of "impoverishing Romanians and increasing the country's debts."  

The vote came after two hours of debate among MPs, at the beginning of which Citu asked his opponents: "What do you have to gain by plunging the country into chaos?"  

However, Citu could yet remain in place – initially on an interim basis but possibly longer-term. Under the constitution, center-right President Klaus Iohannis would have to name a new prime minister. There is speculation, however, that Iohannis may simply re-nominate Citu, daring other parties to provoke fresh elections, which according to current opinion polls, would likely favor only the leftist PSD. 

(With input from agencies)