Romanian Parliament Approves New Cabinet

Designated Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu delivers a speech prior to a confidence vote at the parliament in Bucharest, Romania, 09 February 2012. EPA/BGNES

The cabinet named by Romania's new Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu was approved by the country's Parliament on Thursday.

A total of 237 Romanian lawmakers supported the new cabinet versus 232 needed for a majority. Two MPs voted against, while the left-wing oppositional Social Liberal Alliance boycotted the vote

Ungureanu, former head of Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service , named his cabinet on Wednesday, replacing all ruling party ministers in an attempt to make a clean break from his predecessor Emil Boc, who resigned on Monday "to ease political and social pressure."

Emil Boc had imposed a 25% cut in public sector wages and a freeze on pensions.

Romania had to turn to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Union in 2009 for EUR 20 B.

The Romanian government took steps to rein in the budget deficit, which was 7.3% of the GDP in 2009. The deficit was cut to 6.9% in 2010 and an estimated 4.2% in 2011, and the economy began to grow again.

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