Romania's new Government received the green light from the country's Parliament, with 346 votes for, and 192 against on Tuesday afternoon, March 4. The Government, nicknamed Ponta 3, needed a minimum of 288 votes to pass.

The decision was already signed by Parliament representatives, and was sent for publishing to the Official Gazette.

The new ministers will most likely be sworn in on Wednesday, March 5, when the first Government meeting with the new team should also take place.

The vote in the Parliament was a secret one, and was given to the draft law which changed the structure and members of the country's Government.

This came after the National Liberal Party PNL withdrew from the governing coalition, leaving empty seats. Former alliance partners the Social Democratic Party PSD, headed by Prime Minister Victor Ponta, retained the majority of the Government seats, sharing the power with the Conservative Party PC, the National Union for Romania's Progress UNPR, and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania UDMR.

The proposals announced by Ponta for new cabinet members were surprises for many, as several new ministers are technocrats. The list of surprise proposals, here. More about the recent split in Romania's former ruling alliance, here.

editor@romania-insider.com