Romanian Parliament starts vote of no confidence session

Romanian MPs are currently debating and will be later casting their votes on the motion of no-confidence recently submitted by the opposition alliance Social Liberal Union (USL), the first one filed against the government led by Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu. Ungureanu's cabinet, who took office in February this year, might be on thin ice, if the voting promises become reality. Opposition leader Victor Ponta said the opposition had confirmed 227 votes against the Government prior to the vote, and only four were missing for the Government to be overthrown. Only 252 MPs are present at the vote session, of the total 460, and 231 are needed for the motion to pass. The fate of the new Government might rely on the votes of non politically affiliated MPs and of minority groups. This vote comes soon after a wave of politicians from the governing Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) left ship to join the opposition. The opposition has already made plans in case the Government will be dismissed, pledging to support a Government with a limited mandate, until the next general elections. Romania's opposition parties recently expressed their discontent with the current Government's mandate of privatizing remaining state assets, triggering them to file the no-confidence motion. Most recent scandals were the Chevron shale gas concession contracts, which were made public yesterday, and the failed privatization of Cupru Min copper mine. - to be updated- editor@romania-insider.com