Romanian Government Falls in No-Confidence Vote

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania's government fell Friday in a no-confidence vote, as opposition parties seized on widespread public anger over biting austerity measures, cronyism and corruption.

Some 235 lawmakers voted against the government of Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, four more votes than needed.

Opposition leader Victor Ponta said the vote represented the end "of an abusive system that uses any weapon possible."

"Sometimes there is justice. Today there was justice," he declared.

President Traian Basescu will nominate a new prime minister who will then need to present a governing program to Parliament for approval.

The Czech government also faces a vote of no confidence Friday, which it is expected to survive amid growing public anger against austerity measures and corruption.

Former Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, whose four-year-old government was toppled in February after weeks of often violent protests over austerity measures, called the vote "a victory for opportunism in politics and party swapping."

However, he added "I take responsibility for this failure."

Romania's national currency, the leu, fell close to an all-time low on the news. Basescu was scheduled to meet Romania's political parties later for consultations at the Cotroceni presidential palace about a new government.

Thousands have protested in both countries in recent months calling for their governments to abandon the belt-tightening measures and resign, in some of the biggest rallies seen since the overthrow of communism in 1989.