FOCUS: Romanian PM Seeks Parliament Conf Vote On Govt Austerity Plan Monday

According to Romania's Constitution, the Government may seek a confidence vote on draft laws before the two chambers of Parliament.

The Romanian Social Democratic Party said it would submit two no-confidence motions against the Government, one for each of the two laws, and liberals announced they will uphold any no-confidence motion which aims to overthrow the Executive. Social democrat and liberal lawmakers total 212, and no-confidence motions need 236 pro votes to be adopted.

If the Parliament approves a no-confidence motion submitted within three days of a confidence vote sought by the Government, the Cabinet is dismissed. If the Government is not dismissed, the draft law is officially adopted and the Government must assume full responsibility for enforcing it.

National Union for the Progress of Romania leader Gabriel Oprea said the party upholds the Government and will vote against the promised no-confidence motions. Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania leader Marko Bela also said Union lawmakers will not vote to oust the Government.

Lawmakers had until June 4 to bring amendment to the two draft laws. Social democrats brought no amendment and said they would challenge the two laws with the Constitutional Court if the no-confidence motions were not approved. Liberals' amendments aimed to eliminate all the provisions of the two laws. They proposed a series of fiscal and state apparatus spending cut measures.

Government spokeswoman Ioana Muntean said Saturday the Executive rejected all amendments to the two draft laws and preserved the austerity plan that cuts pensions and state employees' wages and eliminates luxury pensions.

Union federations threatened that about 3.000 people will protest at the Parliament's headquarters on Monday.

The austerity plan, which cuts public sector wages, pensions and social welfare benefits, should help the recession-hit country bring its economy on track and convince the International Monetary Fund, which is leading a EUR20 billion rescue package agreed last year, to disburse further installments of the loan.

Romania's economy is still not showing signs of recovery and the national statistics institute reported on June 3 that the country's first quarter gross domestic product shrank 2.6% compared with the year-earlier period. Romanian economy declined by a sharp 7.1% in 2009, reversing a 7.1% growth in the previous year.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.