Romania's new cabinet voted in, set to keep reformist course

Feb 9, 2012, 13:34 GMT

Bucharest - The Romanian parliament on Thursday gave its backing to new Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and his cabinet, which is expected to stick to the country's course of economic reform despite the protests which toppled Ungureanu's predecessor.

'I am proposing a pragmatic course ... and am not making any unrealistic promises,' Ungureanu said presenting his cabinet. The vote in the bi-chamber legislature was 237 votes in favour and two against, while the opposition boycotted the vote.

He replaced Emil Boc, who resigned Monday under pressure from his Democratic Liberal Party and anti-government protests over austerity measures that Romania implemented to shore up its finances.

Ungureanu, 43, is a career diplomat who served as foreign minister from 2004 until 2007 and was the head of the Romanian foreign intelligence service.

The change at the helm of the government is not expected to influence the country's course, as Ungureanu and Boc are both allies of President Traian Basescu, informally the most influential politician in Romania.

The government is expected to last until regular parliamentary elections are held, probably in November. It will have the task of continuing austerity reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund and European Union.

Since 2009, Boc's government has fired tens of thousands of public servants, cut public sector wages by one quarter and increased value added tax from 19 to 24 per cent.

The measures fuelled discontent, which finally resulted in daily, nationwide protests from mid-January. Still, Boc's resignation is widely regarded as a cosmetic change aimed at boosting the Liberals' falling popularity ahead of the elections.

Ungureanu retained seven ministers from Boc's cabinet and introduced nine new people. All of the new ministers are less than 45 years old and the youngest two are just 31.

New are Interior Minister Gabriel Berca, Finance Minister Bodgan Dragoi, Economy Minister Lucian Bode, Tourism Minister Cristian Petrescu, Transport Minister Alexandru Nazare, Agriculture Minister Stelian Fuia, Education Minister Catalin Baba, Communications Minister Razvan Mustea and Labour and Social Minister Claudia Boghicevici.

Environment Minister Laszlo Borbley, Health Minister Ladislau Ritli, Culture Minister Kelemen Hunor, Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu, European Affairs Minister Leonard Orban, Foreign Affairs Minister Cristian Diaconescu and Defence Minister Gabriel Oprea remain from the previous cabinet.

The Deputy Prime Minister Bela Marko also retained his position.