Romania Government spokeswoman Camelia Spataru confirmed on Tuesday that the Government expects an Interior Ministry proposal on Wednesday to replace Bucharest prefect Cristian Deaconescu, Romanian news agency NewsIn reports. Deaconescu - who is close to Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ludovic Orban, who came at odds with PNL president Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Monday - had previously said that he was informed a decision would be taken on Wednesday that he be changed in office.

Tariceanu, who also serves as prime minister, urged Ludovic Orban to resign as head of the Bucharest branch of PNL following his weak results in local elections this month, where Orban unsuccessfully ran for Bucharest mayor.

Sources say Deaconescu would be replaced by Ioan Tincu, former head of the government control body and a crony of former Social Democratic (PSD) minister Octav Cozmanca. The same sources say the reason to replace Deaconescu is a political oane as he is close to Ludovic Orban, who refused to comply with Tariceanu's request and withdraw as head of the Bucharest branch of PNL.