Romania's government survives no confidence vote

BUCHAREST, June 11 (Reuters) Romania's minority centrist government survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote today that had been proposed by President Traian Basescu's opposition Democrat party.

The Democrats had said Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu's cabinet has lost its legitimacy to rule after voters overwhelmingly rejected efforts to oust Basescu in a May 19 referendum backed by the premier.

But Tariceanu and his Liberal party survived the no-confidence vote, which underscored the government's tacit cooperation with the powerful ex-communist Social Democrat Party (PSD).

A total of 153 deputies abstained and even though more deputies who did vote backed the motion - 115 for to 112 against - the result was far off the 235 votes needed to topple the government.

In last month's referendum, three quarters of Romanians opposed charges Basescu had abused his powers.

''How can we have a prime minister that 75 per cent of Romanians turned their backs on?'' Democrat party leader Emil Boc told parliament.

The vote followed months of bickering among Romania's main political groupings and a feud between Tariceanu and Basescu which have split Bucharest's centrist coalition and paralysed reforms.

Political observers say Tariceanu's cabinet, which commands only 20 per cent of seats in parliament, will struggle to pass crucial reforms and fight corruption which spans all areas of Romanian society.

In particular, Western diplomats warn Tariceanu's reliance on the PSD may hamper the battle against fraud, after the leftists dragged their feet on justice reforms during their 2000-2004 rule.

However, Tariceanu vowed to press on with reforms.

''I will leave politics aside and I will focus on my job,'' he told parliament. ''I believe deep in my soul that we are on the right path.'' Romania faces sanctions from the European Union, which it joined in January, if it fails to meet reforms benchmarks, particularly in justice and farming.

REUTERS DS BST2347