USL government wins parliament backing

Romania’s new Cabinet, led by social democrat Victor Ponta, received on Monday the Parliament’s vote of confidence. More than 370 MPs voted – 284 votes being in favor. To be confirmed, the new Cabinet required the support of 231 MPs.

The Ponta cabinet has 17 ministers and four delegate ministers. The 21 new ministers are politicians from USL (social democratic union), technocrats and a representative from the central bank. Two of Ponta’s initial proposals were dropped – Victor Alistar as Minister-delegate for Government Strategies, Decision-Making Transparency and the Civil Society and Corina Dumitrescu as Minister of Education, Research, Youth and Sports. Dumitrescu was replaced by Ioan Mang.

Simona Bazavan