• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at

23. 04. 12. - 15:00

• more General News news...
• RSS Feed General News

23. 04. 12. - 15:00

Government lost support in Senate, to face tough vote on no confidence motion

Michael Leidig

The deputy Speaker of the Senate, Petru Filip, a member of the Democrat Liberal Party (PDL), the largest in government, allegedly resigned today (Mon) from PDL, the local press informs. Sources close to parliament say Filip will join the Liberal Party which together with the Social Democrats and the Conservative forms the Social Liberal Union (USL), in opposition.

Sources close to the majority say another PDL Senator Marian Rasaliu left the party today, but it is still unclear if he would join the opposition.

The latest defections from the ranks of the Democratic Liberals changed the proportion between the ruling coalition and the USL, that won the majority of seats (70 as against 62).

The dramatic changes in parliament take place amidst the USL’s attempt to topple the government by a motion of no confidence. If USL manages to win the majority of the seats in the lower chamber as well, then the cabinet might fall later in the week. The Social Liberals need three more seats to gain the majority in the Chamber of Deputies.

The motion was read last night in parliament and will be debated in the plenum on Friday.
Liberal leader Crin Antonescu said today that if the motion passed, then USL would nominate the co-president of the opposition Social Democrat leader Victor Ponta for the prime ministerial office. Antonescu said if President Traian Basescu refused to acknowledge the new majority and appoint Ponta as the next prime minister (PM), then USL will start the procedures to impeach the president.

Victor Ponta said USL would go to the negotiations with Basescu only in the presence of the journalists and with recording devices.

"We will put the recorders on the table. With Basescu you need to have material proof (...)." Ponta said. He hinted to the recent episode when the president told a TV interview he offered Ponta the PM position but he refused.

Tragic Ski Girl Dies
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl has died after skiing into a tree at high speed during a family holiday tragedy in the Austrian Alps.

Peak Performance
Police chiefs in Hamburg, Germany, are celebrating after new crime figures showed there wasn't a single bank robbery in the city last year.

Chinese Fakeaway
Chinese property developers who've been thwarted in a bid to buy up an entire Austrian village have settled on the next best thing - an entire life-sized replica.

Austrian children help Romanian kids
A charity project run by the middle school in Hippach has been recognised with an award for its social work by officials in Tyrol.

Mother kills disabled daughter because she couldnt take care of her any longer
A Romanian woman killed her 8 year-old disabled daughter on Wednesday (yesterday)because she couldn't pay for her care, Libertatea newspaper reports.

Policeman accused of sex with the son of his girlfriend
A Policeman from Vulcan, Western Romania is currently being investigated for having sex with a minor, the son of his girlfriend, Cancan newspaper informs today (Thurs).

Serial killer survivor walks away alive after fall
An 85 year-old woman who survived the most cruel and notorious serial killer in Romania some 40 years ago, recently fell from the first floor of her apartment building and she walked away safe and sound, Cancan newspaper reports today (Thurs).

The son of Qatar Airlines BA beaten up in Romania
The son of the Board of Administration of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker, was beaten up over the weekend at the launching party of a posh club in Mamaia, at the Romanian Black Sea shore, Cancan newspaper reports.

Majority starts president’s suspension procedures
A day after the Social Liberal Union (USL) legislators dismissed with a large majority of votes the two Speakers of the Parliament, the Union started today the procedures for the suspension and possible impeachment of President Traian Basescu. This is the second time when the Parliament asks for Basescu’s suspension.

Some 177 Roma repatriated by French authorities to Romania
Some 177 Romanian citizens of Roma origin were repatriated on Tuesday night from Lille, France, Romania TV news channel informs today (Weds).