MIA layoff law rejected by deputies

The draft law stipulates layoffs in the Ministry of Internal and Administration and has not met the required number of votes in the Chamber of Deputies, the decision body in this case.

The bill obtained only 150 votes of the 167 necessary to adopt an organic law.

The Democratic Social Party (PSD) and the Liberal National Party (PNL) voted against, the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) for, two deputies from the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR) voted against and one abstained from voting, two Liberal Democrats voted against and one abstained from voting and a Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) deputy did not vote. From the minority group three voted against the bill, four for, six abstained from voting and four voted against.

President of the Chamber of Deputies Roberta Anastase, argued that, procedurally, the vote could be resumed.

"Any organic law which does not meet the number of votes needs to resume its debate on the articles", Roberta Anastase said.

The PDL group leader, Mircea Toader, said that a law which does not meet the required number of votes shall be considered for rejection.

Mircea Toader said that deputies of the minority group did not comply with the agreement of the coalition for a vote in favour of the bill.

"There was a problem. They said they did not understand. You must have a unitary point of view, if you do not see the sign, but we shall discuss this in the coalition", Mircea Toader said.

The PSD leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Mircea Duşa, said that in the Chamber of Deputies the Democratic Party (PD) had no majority.

"They were saying that the vote shall be resumed. No. If they want to resume the vote they must come up with another legislative initiative", Mircea Duşa said.

The bill was also rejected by the Senate and the vote given by the Chamber of Deputies is valuable for determining the legal document.

Translated by: Denisse-Meda Bucura
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University