site.btaRomania Has New Government

The two chambers of Romania’s Parliament on Thursday voted through the new Romanian government of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu by a 290-95 vote with no abstentions,

Of a total of 465 MPs, 418 were present in the Chamber during Thursday’s vote of confidence marked by a scandal and a sharp worded exchange,

Among MPs who voted against were two from the National Liberal Party (PNL), Digi 24 reported. These are Florin Citu, who stepped down as leader of the PNL last spring, and ex finance minister Dan Vilceanu.

“There will be attacks on us and attempts to destroy our alliance. But as it has happened before, I hope that we’ll find a balance,” said Romania’s new Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu before the vote. He voiced hope that although the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania left the coalition, they will remain a team in Parliament on important legislation.

After Thursday’s vote of confidence in Parliament the Prime and Minister took an oath of office before President Klaus Iohannis. The stepping into office of the cabinet of Marcel Ciolacu completes the so-called rotation of power, a procedure which is implemented for the first time in Romania and was planned already in November 2021.

The new cabinet which will govern the country in the next 18 months will have 18 ministries. The Social Democrats (PSD) and the PNL divided equally the portfolios and each party will have a deputy prime minister: Marian Niacu of PSD an Catalin Predoiu of PNL The third coalition partner, the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, left the government.