The shortfall compares with a gap of 0.9pc in the first five months of 2018.

The ruling Social Democrats target a budget deficit of 2.8pc of GDP this year, marginally lower than last year's 2.9pc.

In nominal terms, the deficit stood at 14.7 billion lei  ($3.51 billion) at the end of May.

Budget revenue totalled 123.8 billion lei, or 12pc of GDP. Spending stood at 138.5 billion lei.