September 24 (SeeNews) - Romania's centre-left government on Thursday survived a no-confidence vote sought by the opposition over a reform package backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and designed to curb government spending.
The no-confidence motion submitted by opposition National Liberal Party, PNL, and the Democratic Union of the Hungarians in Romania, UDMR, was supported by 112 of the 471 members of the two chambers of the Romanian parliament, less than half of the needed minimum of 236 votes.
The cabinet led by Prime Minister Emil Boc, which took office nine months ago, comprises centre-right Democratic-Liberal Party, PD-L, and left-wing Social Democratic Party, PSD. Together, they control 329 seats in parliament.
PSD boycotted the vote, saying it was not needed because the funding agreement with the IMF was a top priority for the country. The reform package proposed by the government is a key requirement in the 20 billion euro ($29.5 billion) IMF-led agreement which Romania signed in March. The package includes restructuring of Romania's public sector, a new unified wage scheme and overhauling of the education system.
Some 800,000 workers from Romania's public sector, including policemen, medics, teachers and civil servants, are expected to hold a one-day general strike on October 5 to protest against the IMF-backed cuts in government spending. Romanian trade unions have said they could stage a protest rally on October 7.
($=0.6772 euro)