Romania‘s Social Democrat-led government easily survived a no-confidence motion in parliament on Wednesday, three days after mass street protests forced it into an embarrassing U-turn over a graft decree.

Critics said the decree, which also drew rebukes from Romania‘s Western allies, would have turned back the clock on the fight against corruption in the ex-communist nation of 20 million people. The government rescinded the decree on Sunday.

“I do hope that as of today we get back to work,” Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told lawmakers before the vote.

The Social Democrats and their allies control nearly two thirds of the seats in parliament after winning a December election. They abstained in Wednesday’s vote, when 161 lawmakers backed the no-confidence motion and eight voted against.

The government, however, has been badly shaken by the protests, the largest in Romania since the 1989 fall of communism, and opposition parties vowed after Wednesday’s vote to continue their close scrutiny of the ruling party’s actions.

One minister resigned last week saying he could not support the decree and the Social Democrats have said they are considering the position of Justice Minister Florin Iordache, the architect of the decree.

Party sources have told Reuters he may resign on Wednesday and Grindeanu said on Wednesday a decision on Iordache would be announced on Thursday.

Opposition deputy Catalin Predoiu said of the no-confidence motion: “This is a warning signal that we managed to gather the votes of the whole opposition and it also shows that whenever the new government derails we will gather and sanction it.”

Grindeanu said his government would not consider any further initiatives similar to the rescinded decree “that could awake powerful emotions in society without proper and wide debate”.

The decree would have decriminalised a number of graft offences and effectively shielded dozens of public officials from prosecution for graft.

Romania remains one of the poorest and most graft-prone member states of the European Union, which it joined in 2007.

Before the debate, around a dozen protesters wrote ‘RESIST’ in the snow that had fallen overnight in front of the government headquarters. But the number of people attending daily protests – which reached a quarter of a million on Sunday – has fallen sharply since the government’s climbdown.

Parliament must still endorse the government’s decision to rescind the graft decree and it is expected to hold a session towards the end of the week.

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court rejected challenges on procedural grounds brought against the rescinded decree by Romania‘s president and by the top magistrates’ council.

The court said it would reconvene on Thursday to consider a separate challenge brought by Romania‘s ombudsman against the content of the decree.</s>BUCHAREST, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Romania's Social Democrat-led government easily survived a no-confidence motion in parliament on Wednesday, three days after mass street protests forced it into an embarrassing U-turn over a graft decree.

Critics said the decree, which also drew condemnation from Romania's Western allies, would have turned back the clock on the fight against corruption in the ex-communist nation of 20 million people. The government rescinded the decree on Sunday.

"I do hope that as of today we get back to work," Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told lawmakers before the vote.

The Social Democrats and their allies control nearly two thirds of the seats in parliament after winning a December election. They abstained in Wednesday's vote, when 161 lawmakers backed the no-confidence motion and eight voted against.

The government, however, has been badly shaken by the protests, the largest in Romania since the 1989 fall of communism, and opposition parties vowed after Wednesday's vote to continue their close scrutiny of the ruling party's actions.

One minister resigned last week saying he could not support the decree and the Social Democrats have said they are considering the position of Justice Minister Florin Iordache, the architect of the decree.

Party sources have told Reuters he may resign on Wednesday and Grindeanu said on Wednesday a decision on Iordache would be announced on Thursday.

Opposition deputy Catalin Predoiu said of the no-confidence motion: "This is a warning signal that we managed to gather the votes of the whole opposition and it also shows that whenever the new government derails we will gather and sanction it."

Grindeanu said his government would not consider any further initiatives similar to the rescinded decree "that could awake powerful emotions in society without proper and wide debate".

The decree would have decriminalised a number of graft offences and effectively shielded dozens of public officials from prosecution for graft.

Before the debate, around a dozen protesters wrote 'RESIST' in the snow that had fallen overnight in front of the government headquarters. But the number of people attending daily protests - which reached a quarter of a million on Sunday - has fallen sharply since the government's climbdown.

Parliament must still endorse the government's decision to rescind the graft decree. That vote is expected to come towards the end of the week.

Romania remains one of the poorest and most graft-prone member states of the European Union, which it joined in 2007. (Additional reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Matt Robinson and Gareth Jones)</s></s>Critics said the decree, which also drew rebukes from Romania's Western allies, would have turned back the clock on the fight against corruption in the ex-communist nation of 20 million people. The government rescinded the decree on Sunday.

"I do hope that as of today we get back to work," Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told lawmakers before the vote.

At least 5,000 protesters gathered outside government headquarters late on Wednesday to demand the cabinet's resignation, despite a snowstorm, subzero temperatures and power blackouts. "We exist, we resist," they chanted.

Separately, an estimated 200 pro-government protesters gathered outside centrist President Klaus Iohannis' office in support of Grindeanu. Iohannis briefly went outside to talk to them but they refused dialogue.

The Social Democrats and their allies control nearly two thirds of parliament seats after winning a December election. They abstained in Wednesday's vote, when 161 lawmakers backed the no-confidence motion and eight voted against.

The government, however, has been badly shaken by the protests, some of the largest in Romania since the 1989 fall of communism, and opposition parties vowed after Wednesday's vote to continue their close scrutiny of the ruling party's actions.

One minister resigned last week saying he could not support the decree. Grindeanu said a decision on whether to dismiss Justice Minister Florin Iordache, the decree's architect, would be announced on Thursday.

Opposition deputy Catalin Predoiu said of the no-confidence motion: "This is a warning signal that we managed to gather the votes of the whole opposition and it also shows that whenever the new government derails we will gather and sanction it."

Grindeanu said his government would not consider any further initiatives similar to the rescinded decree "that could awake powerful emotions in society without proper and wide debate".

The decree would have decriminalized a number of graft offences and effectively shielded dozens of public officials from prosecution for graft.

The number of people attending daily protests - which reached a quarter of a million on Sunday - has fallen since the government's climbdown.

Parliament must still endorse the government's decision to rescind the graft decree.

Social Democrat Party leader Liviu Dragnea, who is on trial in an abuse of office case and could have benefited from the decree, said the repeal should be discussed and approved in parliament as soon as possible.

Earlier on Wednesday the Constitutional Court rejected challenges on procedural grounds brought against the rescinded decree by President Iohannis and the top magistrates' council.

The court said it would reconvene on Thursday to consider a separate challenge brought by Romania's ombudsman against the content of the decree.

Romania remains one of the poorest and most graft-prone member states of the European Union, which it joined in 2007.</s>Romania’s Government has survived a no-confidence motion in Parliament on Wednesday. 161 MPs voted against the government; 233 votes would be required for the motion to pass.

The submission of a non-confidence motion was the opposition’s reaction to the government’s introduction of a cluster of Penal Code amendments last week. The bill that passed through the Parliament in the evening of January 31st decriminalized some corruption offenses and triggered a wave of protests unseen in Romania since the fall of communism.

The bill that was championed by the ruling Social Democrats (PSD) has now become an anathema. The Minister of justice Florin Iordache that drafted the law was expected to resign on Wednesday evening. It remains to be seen whether the political sacrifice will suffice.

Last week President Klaus Iohannis joined hundreds of thousands of demonstrators protesting across Romania before the government was forced to withdraw the bill. Now, the protestors are demanding the government’s resignation, which does not seem forthcoming.

However, following the withdrawal of the bill and the expected resignation of a cabinet minister, pressure from Brussels seems to be easing.

In a press conference with French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that Romania is in the process of “recovering.”

European Commission spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, spoke earlier this week about possible backtracking in the fight against corruption in Romania.</s>Romania's Social Democrat-led government has survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence after the country witnessed its largest protests in decades over a corruption decree.

Ioana Bran, the parliamentary secretary, said on Wednesday that 161 MPs voted in support of the motion, short of the 232 votes needed for it to pass.

The Social Democrats and their allies control nearly two thirds of the seats in parliament after winning a December election.

They abstained from Wednesday's vote.

Romania president's hometown divided over crisis

"The necessary majority has not been met, according to the constitution, for the vote to pass," Bran said.

At least 5,000 protesters gathered outside government headquarters late on Wednesday to demand the cabinet's resignation, despite a snowstorm, subzero temperatures and power blackouts. "We exist, we resist," they chanted.

Catalin Predoiu, an opposition deputy, said of the motion: "This is a warning signal that we managed to gather the votes of the whole opposition and it also shows that whenever the new government derails we will gather and sanction it."

For over a week, hundreds of thousands of people have protested against the government after it passed a decree to decriminalise some official corruption.

Critics decried the move as a major setback to the country's anti-corruption drive.

Bowing to pressure, the government scrapped the ordinance on Sunday as some 500,000 people protested across the country.

The rallies were the largest protests in Romania since the fall of communist rule in 1989.

'Ugly face of politics'

The motion will now be debated by the parliament.

Klaus Iohannis, Romania's president, said the fight to contain corruption shows the "ugly face of politics".

He told the Associated Press news agency that the massive street protests were successful in stopping the decree that would have eased up on public officials who abuse their power while in office.

He said he was pleased that protesters cared about the future of Romania and made their feelings known.

READ MORE: Romanian government under pressure as 500,000 protest

"I was surprised by the size of the crowd," he said.

"Having over 200,000 people in Piata Victoriei [Victory Square] is something extraordinary."

The Constitutional Court rejected challenges on procedural grounds brought against the rescinded decree by Iohannis and by the top magistrates' council.

The court said it would reconvene on Thursday to consider a separate challenge brought by Romania's ombudsman against the content of the decree.</s>Critics said the decree, which also drew rebukes from Romania's Western allies, would have turned back the clock on the fight against corruption in the ex-communist nation of 20 million people. The government rescinded the decree on Sunday.

"I do hope that as of today we get back to work," Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told lawmakers before the vote.

At least 5,000 protesters gathered outside government headquarters late on Wednesday to demand the cabinet's resignation, despite a snowstorm, subzero temperatures and power blackouts. "We exist, we resist," they chanted.

Separately, an estimated 200 pro-government protesters gathered outside centrist President Klaus Iohannis' office in support of Grindeanu. Iohannis briefly went outside to talk to them but they refused dialogue.

The Social Democrats and their allies control nearly two thirds of parliament seats after winning a December election. They abstained in Wednesday's vote, when 161 lawmakers backed the no-confidence motion and eight voted against.

The government, however, has been badly shaken by the protests, some of the largest in Romania since the 1989 fall of communism, and opposition parties vowed after Wednesday's vote to continue their close scrutiny of the ruling party's actions.

One minister resigned last week saying he could not support the decree. Grindeanu said a decision on whether to dismiss Justice Minister Florin Iordache, the decree's architect, would be announced on Thursday.

Opposition deputy Catalin Predoiu said of the no-confidence motion: "This is a warning signal that we managed to gather the votes of the whole opposition and it also shows that whenever the new government derails we will gather and sanction it."

Grindeanu said his government would not consider any further initiatives similar to the rescinded decree "that could awake powerful emotions in society without proper and wide debate".

The decree would have decriminalized a number of graft offences and effectively shielded dozens of public officials from prosecution for graft.

The number of people attending daily protests - which reached a quarter of a million on Sunday - has fallen since the government's climbdown.

Parliament must still endorse the government's decision to rescind the graft decree.

Social Democrat Party leader Liviu Dragnea, who is on trial in an abuse of office case and could have benefited from the decree, said the repeal should be discussed and approved in parliament as soon as possible.

Earlier on Wednesday the Constitutional Court rejected challenges on procedural grounds brought against the rescinded decree by President Iohannis and the top magistrates' council.

The court said it would reconvene on Thursday to consider a separate challenge brought by Romania's ombudsman against the content of the decree.

Romania remains one of the poorest and most graft-prone member states of the European Union, which it joined in 2007.</s>Democratic Union of Magyars in Romania (UDMR) MPs will take part in the debate on the no-confidence motion tabled by the Liberals, Kelemen Hunor announced on Tuesday morning following a meeting of UDMR MPs. The party leader pointed out, however, that although he will take part in the debate he will not vote for or against the motion. Nevertheless, he admitted that “the Grindeanu Government’s mistakes were major mistakes.”

“We will take part in the debate on the no-confidence motion. A no-confidence motion is always welcome. It’s Parliament’s responsibility to permanently oversee the Executive. A debate is needed. I’m convinced that, at this moment, PSD-ALDE has the majority. The signatories did not believe they would topple the Government either, otherwise they would have proposed alternative solutions. They don’t believe they will topple the Government either, because PSD-ALDE have 54-55 percent in Parliament. It will be an extremely important debate, we will take part in this debate. With clear conscience, I cannot vote for or against the motion. One can’t vote for the motion because nobody showed a different way and nobody has the possibility to form a majority. And it’s difficult to vote against the motion because the Grindeanu Government’s mistakes were major mistakes that we criticised,” UDMR President Kelemen Hunor stated.

UDMR MPs met on Tuesday morning to adopt a common position on the vote they will cast on the no-confidence motion that the Liberals read in the plenum on Monday, but also on the draft budget for 2017.</s>(BUCHAREST, Romania) — Romania's center-left government has survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence after mass protests.

Ioana Bran, the parliamentary secretary said 161 lawmakers voted in support of the motion, short of the 232 votes needed for it to pass.

"We can say that the necessary majority has not been met, according to the constitution, for the vote to pass," Bran said.

Hundreds of thousands of people protested against the government after it passed an emergency ordinance last week to decriminalize some official corruption.

The government eventually scrapped the ordinance and the bill will now be debated and approved by the parliament.</s>Members of Parliament have passed a motion of no confidence in the Football Association following a debate.

Less than 20 MPs debated the motion, which was brought to the House of Commons by Damian Collins, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

Sports minister Tracey Crouch said she was against the a ruling of no confidence, but her views were not heeded by her colleagues in the chamber.

A lot of the debate centred around an increase in diversity at the FA, something new chairman Greg Clarke has promised to do.
The government of Prime Minister of Romania Sorin Grindeanu survives a no-confidence motion over proposed decriminalisation of certain corruption offences, with 161 MPs voting in favor of the motion, short of the 232 votes needed for it to pass.