Romanian Govt To Seek Confidence Vote In Parliament Over Education Bill On Oct 28

They also decided the amendments to the draft education law would be submitted by Monday, October 25.

The Government last Tuesday decided to seek a confidence vote in Parliament to pass the education bill and submitted the draft to Parliament the following day. Prime Minister Emil Boc said at the time the Government will pass the bill in the form adopted by the Chamber of Deputies, adding, however, it is open to analyze all amendments submitted by lawmakers. Boc stressed the Government decided to resort to the "harsh procedure" of seeking the lawmakers' confidence vote to pass the bill because the draft education law is stuck in Parliament and stalling its adoption is not good for the modernization of the education system.

Under the Constitution, the Government can seek a vote of confidence in Parliament to pass a certain program, a declaration of general policy or a draft law. The Government is overthrown if the lawmakers pass a no-confidence motion submitted within three days since presenting the respective program, declaration of general policy or draft law. If the Government is not overthrown, the draft law presented or completed, with the amendments accepted by the Government, is considered adopted and the application of the program or the declaration of general policy becomes mandatory for the Government. If the head of state requires the reexamination of the law adopted this way, then, debates on the respective law will be held in the Parliament's plenary meeting.

Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana said he will notify the Constitutional Court Tuesday on a potential conflict between state institutions regarding the education bill. Geoana said the conflict arose when the Government decided to withdraw the draft education law from the Senate and seek a confidence vote in Parliament to pass it. Geoana also said the Senate considers this is a constitutional conflict with the Government, which breached the Constitution, adding the Government's decision to withdraw the draft law from the Senate is an "arbitrary move", which translates into stripping the Parliament of its attributions.

The education bill currently is under debate at the Senate's education committee. Boc has recently said the Government will have no problem seeking a confidence vote in Parliament to pass the bill if the Senate fails to adopt it within a reasonable timescale.

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