Tensions have run high in Romania since the election was annulled in December following allegations that Russian interference had propelled far-right NATO critic Calin Georgescu into pole position in the first round.
Analysts had said the three hard-right parties that filed the no-confidence motion - which accused the two-month-old coalition government led by Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of corruption and of losing credibility - had done so to boost their profile before the rerun.
The three parties won around 35% of seats in a parliamentary election on December 1 last year, capitalising on voters' anger with a centrist establishment facing accusations of corruption.
The no-confidence motion was supported by 144 lawmakers, short of the 233 votes needed to pass.
"You are not interested in the problems Romanians are confronting every day," Ciolacu told opposition lawmakers before the vote. "You infect society day by day with the virus of lies and hatred."
"The political chaos you want to bring in Romania will be automatically followed by economic chaos. The euro will reach the sky. All construction sites will be closed. People will live in poverty unable to pay their bills."
Opposition lawmakers shouted "thieves" during his speech.
"You are the ugly face of the system which mocked this country for 35 years," George Simion, the leader of hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians, told Ciolacu.
Prosecutors said on Wednesday they had launched a criminal investigation against Georgescu over accusations including promoting antisemitism. Georgescu has said he will run again.
Members of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration have criticised Romania for annulling the election.
Georgescu, who has praised Romania's 1930s fascist leaders and expressed admiration for both the U.S. and Russian presidents, remains voters' top choice for the presidency, according to opinion polls.
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-bor...
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 Amer...
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law on Friday, creating the first U.S. regulatory framework for dollar-backed stablecoins and m...
German authorities have arrested a Libyan man accused of overseeing torture and sexual abuse at a notorious prison in Tripoli, the International Crimi...
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has survived a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament, overcoming accusations of secrecy and mismanagement by far-right lawmakers.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met his Romanian counterpart Nicusor Dan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, reaffirming a commitment to deepen bilateral ties and enhance Black Sea security.
Romanian authorities have evacuated dozens of residents near the Praid Salt Mine amid fears of a collapse triggered by heavy flooding, as emergency teams scramble to contain the damage and safeguard one of the country’s top tourist sites.
Romania is looking to deepen its energy partnership with Azerbaijan, including potential future negotiations on gas supplies, as part of a broader push to enhance regional energy security through infrastructure projects and cooperation, a senior Romanian official said ahead of Baku Energy Week.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
North Korea has stopped foreign tourists from visiting its new Wonsan-Kalma resort just weeks after it welcomed the first Russian visitors.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in the U.S., though the company has not confirmed the claim.
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-border strikes this week heightened tensions.
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 American detainees.
Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a declaration of principles after months of Qatar-mediated talks, aiming to end fighting in the country’s east.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment