Romanian PM Citu wins party leadership, prolonging political stalemate

FILE PHOTO: Romanian Prime Minister-designate Florin Citu attends a news conference in Bucharest, Romania, February 26, 2020. Inquam Photos/George Calin via REUTERS/File Photo

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian Prime Minister Florin Citu won the leadership election of his ruling Liberal Party on Saturday, further reducing the chances of reuniting the centrist coalition government which collapsed earlier this month.

The fracture of the Liberal-led coalition, which includes the junior partner USR Plus and ethnic Hungarian group UDMR, threatens Romania's economic recovery and efforts to reduce the European Union state's large deficits. It also comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are rising sharply again.