Snickering politicians inside the Romanian parliament

Designated Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, left, reacts as he chats with Florin Geogescu, right, designated Finance Minister and Interior Affairs Minister Ioan Rus, center, during the validation vote session in front of both parliament chambers, in Bucharest, Romania, May 7. Ponta, one of the main opposition leaders, was nominated as prime minister by the Romanian president Traian Basescu April 27, after the last government, lead by Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, collapsed during a no-confidence vote.

Romanian Premier designate Victor Ponta, left, prepares to address a parliament session in Bucharest, Romania, May 7. Romanian lawmakers are voting on whether to approve the prime minister designate's left-leaning Cabinet, which is expected to continue a slate of economic reforms.