Romanian Parliament Approves New Government

Romania's parliament has approved a new government led by former foreign espionage chief Mihai Razvan Ungureanu.

Ungureanu, who is also a former foreign minister, was appointed prime minister-designate after Emil Boc resigned recently following weeks of public protests against austerity measures.

The ruling center-right coalition hopes the new government will improve its popularity ahead of local and parliamentary elections due later this year.

Lawmakers voted 237-2 on February 9 in favor of Ungureanu's cabinet, which needed 232 votes to take office.

The opposition boycotted the vote.

After the vote, the government was sworn in by President Traian Basescu.

With agency reports