September 24, the main opposition party, the Social Democrats (PSD) put before the Parliament a motion of no confidence in the hope of defeating the liberal government of premier Tariceanu. Influential PSD members, including Romania's ex-president Ion Iliescu, had previously opposed the motion and abstained from voting it in a preliminary party ballot. In order to pass, the motion needs at least 232 votes. Analysts consider open the outcome of the vote which is set to take place next week.
