Romanian Social Democrats Give Proposed Govt The Cold Shoulder

"We have decided not to attend the procedures involved in such a political parody prepared again by Traian Basescu. Our decision is not to legitimize such a parody through our presence," Geoana said.

Asked if the social democrats would no attend plenary meetings and committee hearings, Geoana said this will be decided within the new Parliament majority, and the steps will be agreed with the other parties.

"Any form of blackmail threatening the dissolution of the Parliament represents a criminal act against Romania's national interest. We are in a phase of political and democratic parody," Geoana said.

He added the Negoita Government is not a serious proposition, since it is the same government, with the same structure and perhaps the same ministers as the Boc Government and the proposed and rejected Croitoru Government.

"Right now, the absolute priority is the draft budget for 2010. We feel that in this interval the Parliament's energies should be directed towards truly important topics," Geoana said.

Romania's opposition Social Democratic Party decided Monday to delay holding confidence vote for the country's new government until December, after presidential elections, people familiar with the matter told MEDIAFAX Monday.

The sources said social democrats want a new government sworn in after the country elects its president.

Romania holds presidential elections on November 22 and a runoff on December 6 if none of the candidates secures a majority of votes in the first round.

The law provides that Parliament should hold a confidence vote within 15 days after the prime minister-designate presents the list of ministers and governing program for which he seeks the vote. Romania's Prime Minster-designate Liviu Negoita said he will have a list of proposed ministers sent to Parliament Monday afternoon, adding the Cabinet is backed by democrat liberals and independent lawmakers. That means the Parliament should hold the confidence vote on November 24 at the latest.

Negoita, designated for prime minister Friday, said he wants to form a national coalition government, but has failed to secure the opposition's support. His Cabinet needs at least 236 votes in Parliament to be sworn in, but the opposing majority has over 65% of the seats.

Romania is currently run by the minority democrat liberal government ousted in a no-confidence vote mid-October and the country's chances to have a full-power government before presidential elections on November 22 are slim.

Negoita's proposed Cabinet is sure to be voted down, especially since he has said propose ministers will include people proposed by the previous prime minister-designate, whose Government lost a confidence vote just last week.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.