Romania's government fell Wednesday after the ruling party took the unusual step of passing a no-confidence vote in its own prime minister following internal power struggles.
Grindeanu lost the censure motion by only eight votes.
Wednesday's vote was the climax of a week of political crisis in Romania, which started when the ruling Social Democrats (PSD) and its junior partner, ALDE, pulled their political support for the government - which came to power just six months ago - arguing that Grindeanu had fallen behind schedule implementing the coalition's agreed reform program.
At stake could be the future of PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, who has received a two-year suspended sentence in a vote-rigging case and is now on trial in a separate abuse of office case.
"Romania needs stability and responsibility", Grindeanu said on Thursday last week while continuing with official business as usual. He claims powerful party leader Liviu Dragnea wants to replace him with a party loyalist.
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After seeing its motion passed, the PSD will be allowed to nominate a replacement.
The three centre-right opposition parties - normally no fans on Grindeanu - have said that their 167 lawmakers will either vote against or abstain. Nearly all PSD MPs voted against their colleague. However, the nominee will be required to secure a confidence from the parliament, as well as conservative President Klaus Iohannis, upon presenting his cabinet and policy plans.
Romania's economy has been doing well, enjoying the fastest growth rate - 5.6 percent - in the European Union in the first quarter, while efforts to tackle corruption have begun to bear fruit.
But for further progress Romania can ill afford more instability, with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission saying reforms are sorely needed.
Shortly after taking power earlier this year, Grindeanu's government tried to pass a controversial bill that would have decriminalized several corruption offenses.
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