Budget law: Government will not only fight opposition, but also its own MPs

The Emil Boc Government, which failed to be toppled following last week’s censure motion, has every chance of escaping next week’s second motion (on the education law), but the major test will be the vote in Parliament over the 2011 budget law, considering the Government will be up not only against the opposition, but also against some of its own MPs.

The Government has postponed sending the budget law to Parliament (the legal deadline was October 15th) until after the conclusions of the IMF mission. But for Parliament it is clear the budget will be a meagre one. Before the draft is adopted by Government and then sent to the legislative arm for discussions, some of the MPs supporting the Government demand that they be consulted prior to the budget’s adoption, threatening they will not vote for it, otherwise. The reason for this: the money allocated under the budget for various counties and MP constituencies. Several PDL (ruling party) leaders admitted yesterday that there were MPs asking to be consulted before the draft is adopted by the Government. Such a situation is not inconceivable, but it does point to some discontentment.