Romanian government falls in confidence vote
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s government fell Tuesday in a confidence vote in Parliament, with lawmakers saying it has failed to improve the economy after it went into recession following three years of growth.
Lawmakers voted 254-176 to oust the centrist minority government of Prime Minister Emil Boc. It was the first time Parliament had dismissed a government since communism ended in 1989.
Boc said that his government “has lost a battle and not the war.” He said that lawmakers voted against him because of pension reforms, which would reduce lawmakers’ and other high-end pensions.
Although the vote ostensibly was aimed at punishing Boc for his economic performance, it comes before Nov. 22 presidential elections, which President Traian Basescu is favored to win for a second term.
Basescu is close to Boc, who heads the Democratic Liberal Party. Opposition lawmakers hope to dent his chances.
Boc’s government can stay in office, with limited powers, pending the appointment of a new prime minister by Basescu. Once appointed, the prime minister has 10 days to form a Cabinet, which needs parliamentary approval.
Basescu thanked Boc “for the courage with which he pushed forward reforms” in his nine months in office, adding that the vote was politically motivated ahead of presidential elections.
The president said he was meeting parliamentary political parties later Tuesday to discuss the forming of a new government that would “limit the political instability.”
The opposition Liberal Party filed the motion after the coalition government’s position was further weakened when another party — the Social Democrats — quit the government 10 days ago after one of its Cabinet ministers was fired.
Calin Popescu Tariceanu, a Liberal Party lawmaker, alleged that the government “managed to destroy the country’s economy, it devalued the national currency, increased taxes and still does not have money for salaries and pensions, and investments are blocked.”
Romania has been hit by the global downturn and it secured a $17.1 billion International Monetary Fund loan, which was needed to help the country balance the books this year so it can keep paying public salaries and pensions.
The unemployment rate is about 7 percent, up from 4 percent a year ago. The economy is expected to contract by 8 percent this year, following three years of an annual economic growth of 8 percent.
Boc said that ousting his government because of difficult reforms demanded by the IMF “could endanger Romania’s agreements” with the IMF. The IMF is due to visit Bucharest for its next review in November.
Democratic Liberals warned that ousting the government could lead to instability at a time of recession.
“We have to see what will be the implications of a political instability in a year that is pretty difficult. … We should not neglect the indirect impact of political instability just for the sake of political games,” Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said.
Cezar Preda, deputy chairman of the Democratic Liberals, said the vote was “a simple political feud” against Basescu before the presidential election.
Associated Press writer Alison Mutler contributed to this report.
Related News
Thousands of Romanian workers protest low wages outside government HQ; traffic blockedOctober 7th, 2009 Thousands of Romanian workers protest low wagesBUCHAREST, Romania — Thousands of Romanian workers from all over the country protested low wages in the capital on Wednesday, rallying outside government headquarters to demanded leaders do something to increase their pay. Trade unions said up to 20,000 workers were expected to take part in the three-hour rally, and traffic was diverted in Bucharest.
Speaker of Irish parliament to resign rather than face no-confidence vote in expenses scandalOctober 6th, 2009 Expenses scandal forces out Irish parliament chiefDUBLIN — The embattled speaker of Ireland's parliament says he will resign rather than face a no-confidence vote demanded by opposition leaders over his lavish spending on staff and travel. John O'Donoghue says he will step down next week as the neutral moderator of parliament.
Finnish government faces no-confidence vote in Parliament regarding fundingOctober 1st, 2009 Finnish government faces no-confidence voteHELSINKI — Finland's government faced a motion of no-confidence in Parliament on Thursday over election and party funding, and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's Cabinet was expected to survive the vote with the support of his four-party governing coalition. However, Vanhanen also was facing a separate allegation in a television program on Monday that accused him of accepting free building materials for the construction of his house.
Private research group says consumer confidence retreats in September amid job worriesSeptember 30th, 2009 Consumer confidence unexpectedly falls in Sept.NEW YORK — Cconsumers' confidence in the economy falls in September as Americans' worries about job security offset any enthusiasm about the rally in the stock market. The Conference Board says that the Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 53.1, down from the revised 54.5 reading in August.
Fall election unlikely in Canada after opposition party says it will prop up governmentSeptember 16th, 2009 Fall election in Canada increasingly unlikelyTORONTO — A fall election in Canada grew increasingly unlikely Wednesday after the opposition New Democratic party said it would prop up Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority government long enough to pass legislation to help the unemployed. The decision comes one day after the Bloc Quebecois party also said it would support Harper, and all but rules out an election this fall.
Opposition says it will salvage Conservative government in no-confidence vote FridaySeptember 15th, 2009 Canada to avoid immediate electionTORONTO — One of Canada's opposition parties said Tuesday it will prop up Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government in a no-confidence vote this week, averting an immediate election. Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said his party will vote for the government's key budget bill Friday because there is nothing inherently wrong with it.
Moldova's Parliament elects new speaker in vote boycotted by CommunistsAugust 28th, 2009 Moldova's Parliament elects new speakerCHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova's pro-Western coalition government has chosen a new parliament speaker in a vote that was boycotted by the Communist legislators. Last month, the four-party coalition won a narrow victory in a national election in Moldova, a former Soviet republic.
Parliament approves Bulgaria's new center-right governmentJuly 27th, 2009 Parliament approves Bulgaria's new governmentSOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgaria's parliament has formally approved the country's new center-right government. Lawmakers voted 162-77, with one abstention, to ratify Prime Minister-designate Boiko Borisov's new government Monday, and approved his 16-member Cabinet in a separate vote.
Romanian president says legislator must be tried on corruption charges he facesJuly 23rd, 2009 Romanian president wants legislator prosecutedBUCHAREST, Romania — President Traian Basescu urged a Romanian legislator on Thursday to surrender his parliamentary immunity so he can be prosecuted on corruption charges. The European Commission said Wednesday that Romania is not doing enough to fix its flawed justice system.
Japan PM to call national election, opposition submits no-confidence motionJuly 13th, 2009 Japan PM to call vote, faces no-confidence motionTOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso told ruling party leaders Monday he will dissolve parliament and hold general elections next month, following a crushing defeat for his party in Tokyo municipal polls considered a barometer of voter sentiment. The decision came as opposition parties, emboldened by a surge in popularity, submitted a joint no-confidence motion in parliament against the prime minister and his Cabinet.
Japanese opposition parties submit no-confidence motion against prime minister and CabinetJuly 13th, 2009 Japan opposition parties send no-confidence motionTOKYO — Japan's main opposition party says it submitted a no-confidence motion to parliament against the prime minister and his Cabinet. Democratic Party of Japan spokesman Toshiaki Oikawa says the motion was submitted together with other opposition parties.
Police charge 2 teenagers over attacks on Romanian families in Northern IrelandJune 21st, 2009 NIreland police charge 2 over attacks on RomaniansBELFAST, Northern Ireland — Police in Northern Ireland have charged two teenagers over a series of attacks on Romanian families that drove 100 people from their homes. The Police Service of Northern Ireland says the boys — aged 15 and 16 — were charged with provocative conduct late Saturday.
Nepal to elect new Prime Minister todayMay 23rd, 2009 KATHMANDU - Almost three weeks deadlock over the formation of a new government, Nepal lawmakers will vote today to elect a new Prime Minister. Former chief of the CPN (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has been supported by 22 parties in the parliament, is almost certain to become the next Prime Minister.
Hungarian PM announces resignationMarch 22nd, 2009 BUDAPEST - Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany Saturday announced his resignation and proposed forming a new government with a new head. At a congress of his ruling Socialist Party, Gyurcsany offered to hand over power to a successor but would like to retain the position as the party's chairman.
Government to present vote on account Feb 16January 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The central government will present a vote on account on Feb 16, parliament officials said here Thursday. An interim railway budget would be prersented on Feb 13.
Loading ...