UDMR also obtained the position of Vice Prime Minister, filled by the party’s head, Marko Bela. The governing program is not much different than other Boc governments, the first falling on 13 October due to a parliamentary no-confidence vote, and forecasts 1.3 percent economic growth in 2010 and a budget deficit of only 5.9 percent. The value-added tax and the flat tax will remain at their current levels, of 19 and 16 percent, respectively.

Mihai Dumitru was nominated to head the Ministry of Agriculture, Vasile Blaga, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Adriean Videanu, the Ministry of Economy, Radu Berceanu, the Ministry of Transports, Elena Udrea, the Ministry of Tourism and Regional Development, Mihai Şeitan, the Ministry of Labour, Daniel Funeriu, the Ministry of Education, and Gabriel Sandu, the Ministry of Communications. UDMR appointed Cseke Atilla for the Ministry of Health, Laszlo Borbely for the Ministry of the Environment, and Hunor Kelemen for the Ministry of Culture. The rest are independents, with Cătălin Predoiu nominated Minister of Justice and Theodor Baconschi, Romania’s current ambassador to France, as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Defence will be headed by Gabriel Oprea, leader of independents in Parliament, while Sebastian Vlădescu will replace Gheorghe Pogea at the Ministry of Finance.

The number one priority after the government is passed in Parliament is the validation of the 2010 budget. President Traian Băsescu said that he assured representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the 2010 budget will be approved by 16 January, so that Romania will be able to receive the third tranche of the €12.95 billion loan. Băsescu indicated that the €2.3 billion will go to the National Bank and the Ministry of Finance. The Boc government now has the parliamentary majority necessary for its validation, relying on at least 237 votes, of a minimum 236 required. Together with PD-L and UDMR lawmakers, the government has the support of the independents and the national minorities, other than the Hungarians. While the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) said they would not vote affirmatively for this government, a positive vote for the Boc Cabinet from the liberals and social-democrats is not entirely out of the question.