Even without the supporting votes  from the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Romania’s Government led by Prime Minister Victor Ponta has survived the no-confidence motion on Friday morning, June 12.

The motion needed 278 votes to pass, but only received 194. The Social Democratic Party, run by Ponta himself, and the National Union for Romania’s Progress (UNPR) attended the vote, but their MPs chose not to cast any votes. Only the Prime Minister cast his vote. The no-confidence motion received only 13 votes for.   Only 214 of the 418 MPs who attended the session cast their votes.

Prior to the vote, the PM said he was ‘nervous’ about the outcome, but his party’s refusal to vote suggested otherwise: they were rather convinced the opposition did not have enough power to bring down the Government.

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editor@romania-insider.com