Romanian govt survives confidence vote
The Romanian government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote today after the opposition failed to muster the votes needed to topple it over unpopular cuts in wages, pensions and benefits.
The failure of the motion filed by the opposition Social Democratic Party means the government’s austerity measures get the green light, which in turn will unlock the next instalment of an International Monetary Fund-led multibillion-pound loan.
Prime minister Emil Boc plans to cut public sector wages by a quarter and pensions by 15%, which he says is necessary to keep the budget deficit at 6.8%.
The government was eight votes away from being ousted. The motion needed a majority, or 236 votes. A ruling from the Constitutional Court is expected before the measures can go ahead.
Mr Boc argued that, while painful, the measures will help Romania’s economy in the long term.
As lawmakers debated the motion, thousands of angry Romanians protested outside parliament against the proposed salary and pension cuts.
More than 3,500 public sector workers and retirees blocked traffic and some tried to storm a gate. Protesters threw water at police officers and scuffled briefly with riot police. One group set fire to dolls bearing the names of ministers and impaled on poles.
Protesters had threatened to storm the parliament if the government was not voted out, but their protest fizzled in the heat.
“No other country going through a crisis has made such cuts. They cut by 5%, but they didn’t touch the pensions,” said retiree Ioana Cuzmici, 75.
“The main issue is not the money, it is the abuse. It is an abuse to reduce pensions, which are people’s right,” said French language teacher Nicoleta Mirica.
Some union members attending the debates booed Mr Boc during his speech.
He said the cuts must be made to meet the demands of the International Monetary Fund loan.
He said Romania should choose “the lesser of two evils” or it could become unable to pay wages, benefits and pensions.
