The motion was rejected even though it received 207 votes in favor and just eight against. To topple the government, the motion required the votes of half plus one of the number of lawmakers, meaning 276 votees.
MPs of parties in the ruling coalition did not vote.
In September, Romania’s anticorruption department indicted Ponta on charges of accessory to tax evasion and money laundering and 17 counts of forgery. The prime minister denies any wrongdoing and has refused to step down from office.