Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu survived the vote of no confidence initiated by his former ruling coalition partners on Monday at a joint session of the Parliament's two chambers.

Despite some confusion whether the motion was supported by 112 versus 115, or vice-versa, the outcome remains the same, as it needed 233 votes in favour to pass.

The majority of present MPs and senators chose to boycot the vote, blaming the motion's backers for pushing the agenda of President Traian Basescu, who is at odds with the cabinet and most parties in the parliament.

The lawmakers voted Basescu out of office earlier this year, but their decision was overturned at last month's referendum.

Basescu has been pushing for early elections since 2005, just half a year since picking Tariceanu as the Prime Minister, backed by a slim majority made of his Liberal party and the president's own Democrats.

Following a series of public spats between the president and the PM, the Democrats left government and initiated Monday's no-confidence vote.

The next parliamentary elections in the country are scheduled for end-2008.

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