Romanian MPs are due to vote on a simple motion tabled which calls for the resignation of Justice minister Monica Macovei, accused by the opposition of failing to reform the Justice sector. The motion, initiated by the Conservative Party (PC) with support from Social Democrats (PSD) and the Greater Romania Party (PRM) is opposed by political groups forming the governing coalition.

The National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD), joined by the Hungarian Democrats (UDMR), convened on Monday evening to jointly oppose the motion despite huge differences that has split the PNL-PD alliance for a month. Still, a close vote is expected in the Senate today as the PSD, PRM and PC number 72 parliamentarians when 69 are enough for the motion to pass.

Macovei, who has the explicit support of the European Commission in most of her moves to reform the Romanian Justice system, said on Monday she was ready to appear before the Parliament to explain Senators about what has changed in the field for the past two years.

While constitutionally Macovei does not necessarily need to resign if the Parliament demands it by passing a simple motion, some representatives of PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu’s Liberal Party have said she would normally have to comply with what the Parliament wants. For his part, Tariceanu defended on Sunday her possibility not to resign if it comes to that.

EC vicepresident Franco Frattini’s spokesperson Friso Roscam Abbing told Deutsche Welle on Monday that Macovei was a guarantee that the Justice reform process in Romania would continue.