The amendment was introduced by social democrat Victor Ponta and had been rejected by the electoral code committee.
"I think county council heads should have the legitimacy of a vote. Let’s give people the right to choose their county council president and leave backstage arrangements aside,” Ponta told the chamber in plenary session.
Liberals opposed the proposal.
"It is normal to make a law to have the head of a county council elected by popular vote, but you should introduce a draft law to discuss. This is not the place to discuss this,” said liberal MP Pantelimon Manta.
The amendment was adopted 132 to 32 votes and 62 abstentions.
President Traian Basescu would not notify the Constitutional Court about a potential article in on the uninominal election of county council presidents, the president’s spokesman, Valeriu Turcan, said Tuesday.