Contestation, no censure: Motions in post-communist Romania (1989-2008)

Confidence motions introduced in the Romanian Parliament in 1989-2008 represented important tools of legislative control over the executive. Simple and censure motions employed by the opposition against the government tackled the most important issues affecting the country, the government’s perceived failure to enact its program, and areas considered a priority by the opposition. No motion really threatened the life of the cabinet, only a fraction of them passed, and even fewer were implemented, but motions gave the opposition public attention and an occasion to present its point of view.