Romanian government okays austerity 2010 budget

BUCHAREST, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Romania's centrist government of Prime Minister Emil Boc approved a cost-cutting 2010 budget on Wednesday, in line with committments under a 20 billion euro IMF-led rescue deal.

'We aim to ensure a relaunch of the national economy next year. The budget is based on indicators agreed with the IMF,' Boc told reporters.

Analysts say the bill is expected to clear parliament unchanged in mid-January, a key condition to unlock a combined 3.3 billion euros worth of stalled loan tranches, vital to help Romania avert plunging deeper into recession.

(Reporting by Radu Marinas; Editing by Diane Craft) Keywords: ROMANIA GOVERNMENT/BUDGET ([e-mail] ; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail] ) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.