UPDATE: Romanian government dismissed by no-confidence vote

The Romanian government led by Mihai Razvan Ungureanu was overthrown following the no-confidence vote that took place today in Parliament, with 235 votes in favor, 9 votes against and 4 votes annulled.

“This is democracy,” said Ungureanu after the end of the vote.

The cabinet was invested in Parliament on February 9, while Ungureanu’s term was the shortest term of a prime-minister in Romania so far. “Personally, I haven’t said my last word,” Ungureanu said.

Prior to the start of the vote, Victor Ponta, the president of the Social Democrat Party, one of the parties in the USL coalition said he is ready to “assume the responsibility of leading the country even starting tomorrow,” while prime-minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu urged the political class that there is an important connection between political and economic stability.

After the end of the vote, Ponta said he will be the proposal for the position of prime-minister from the USL coalition. President Traian Basescu invited the leaders of the parties that are represented in Parliament for discussions.

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From the total of 460 parliamentarians, there were 252 present at the no-confidence vote, while 208 were absent.

The no-confidence vote was submitted last week by the Social-Liberal Union (USL), the main opposition coalition, and was signed by 116 parliamentarians.

Otilia Haraga