- Title: ROMANIA: Parliament approves new cabinet
- Date: 21st December 2012
- Summary: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (DECEMBER 21, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE OF ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT IN SESSION / MPS VOTING MPS VOTING / CHURCH AND OFFICIALS IN BACKGROUND WIDE OF PARLIAMENT HALL VARIOUS OF ROMANIAN PM VICTOR PONTA AND CABINET MEMBERS CAMERAMAN PONTA WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER VICTOR PONTA, SAYING: "The mandate which we might get today through your vote can mark a very special day - the day when exactly 23 years ago the fall of a previous political regime began (Romanian revolution started in the town of Timisoara on Dec 21, 1989) and our country has entered a new world which we hoped would be better." NEW CABINET MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER VICTOR PONTA, SAYING: "I would like to announce the intention of the government to respect and continue the relationship we have with international financial institutions. Not everything the IMF, the EU commission or the World Bank proposing us is perfect, but we have an obligation to negotiate with them in the name of Romania. At the same time we have an obligation to have a new precautionary agreement, to show we are a serious partner and that in the coming years we would need less and less control from some institution in our efforts to make something good for our country." CAMERAMEN PONTA LEAVING PODIUM
- Embargoed: 5th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Romania
- Country: Romania
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVADY7N4GSPVUWHQP4HT4W07XAE0
- Story Text: Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta's new government won parliamentary backing on Friday (December 21), ending a period of political uncertainty in the European Union state.
Ponta's leftist Social Liberal Union (USL) scored a two-thirds majority in a Dec. 9 election, cementing his position although he will still have to work with his rightist rival, President Traian Basescu.
"The mandate which we might get today through your vote can mark a very special day - the day when exactly 23 years ago the fall of a previous political regime began and our country has entered a new world which we hoped would be better," said Prime Minister Victor Ponta addressing MPs ahead of the cabinet vote.
The prime minister's first priorities will be securing a new deal with the International Monetary Fund - vital to maintain investor confidence as Romania's current agreement expires early in 2013 - and then passing a budget.
Ponta will also have to overcome criticism from the IMF over delayed reforms such as privatisations to secure its new funding.
"I would like to announce the intention of the government to respect and continue the relationship we have with international financial institutions. Not everything the IMF, the EU commission or the World Bank proposing us is perfect, but we have an obligation to negotiate with them in the name of Romania. At the same time we have an obligation to have a new precautionary agreement, to show we are a serious partner and that in the coming years we would need less and less control from some institution in our efforts to make something good for our country," said Ponta.
The premier's failed attempt to impeach Basescu in July brought criticism from the EU for undermining the rule of law, sent the leu currency to a record low and raised questions about the future of the IMF deal. That row also raised questions over whether the president would risk a new political crisis by refusing to re-appoint Ponta, despite his election win. But since Basescu agreed to name Ponta as prime minister, the currency has rallied and hit a six-month high on Friday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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