FACTBOX: Rifts leading to Romania coalition collapse

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's Social Democrats (PSD) quit the coalition government on Thursday in a row over the interior ministry job, after months of uneasy cohabitation with their centrist partners, the Democrat-Liberals (PD-L).

Following are some key issues that have deepened divisions between the two parties since they unexpectedly formed a coalition last December.

PRESIDENTIAL RULE

Many PSD seniors have opposed an alliance with their arch rivals Democrat-Liberals linked to President Traian Basescu, saying their grouping could be used as a scapegoat by Basescu to boost his re-election bid if anti-crisis reforms fail.

Basescu's frequent visits to weekly government meetings angered the PSD which blamed him for trying to interfere in the decision-making process.

INTERIOR MINISTRY

On January 13, PSD's interior minister Gabriel Oprea resigned in a row over the appointment of an intelligence officer considered too close to the coalition partners.

In early February, newly appointed Liviu Dragnea quit the post, citing insufficient funds allocated to his ministry during intense coalition talks over the budget.

Political observers said his departure pointed to growing rifts between ruling partners over jobs.

Prime Minister Emil Boc sacked Interior Minister Dan Nica this month and proposed a replacement from his own PD-L party, prompting the Social Democrats' withdrawal from the coalition.

EDUCATION REFORMS

In September, centrist prime minister Emil Boc threatened to sack the leftist education minister unless she withdrew a decision that could have led to political appointments in the education sector.

The decision contradicted principles of newly adopted IMF-mandated legislation to reform the ailing system.

IMF CUTS

The PSD slammed mass job cuts planned by the government as part of a 20-billion-euro IMF-led aid package saying they would oppose the implementation of such a move.

MINISTERS' INVESTIGATIONS

PSD support for parliamentary committees investigating PD-L ministers Monica Iacob-Ridzi for fraud and Elena Udrea for abuse of power prompted the centrists to ask the PSD to decide whether they wanted to be in government or in opposition.

(Compiled by Radu Marinas; Editing by Charles Dick)