1.   Already, the government has imposed an austerity package that won the backing of the International Monetary Fund, which had severed relations with the former Romanian government.

2.   And, although President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has announced a tough fiscal austerity package, he may ease fiscal restrictions to win votes at the elections.

3.   But whether the government can get its austerity package through parliament is very much an issue.

4.   Companies have been laying off employees and families have been tightening their belts for three months in anticipation of the austerity package announced last week.

5.   Finland, which preceded Sweden with introducing tough austerity packages to cut its debt and deficit, began cutting its key rates in October.

6.   Government officials accused the opposition of failing to propose practicable alternatives to the austerity package, at a time when the welfare system needs a firmer footing.

7.   Industry leaders welcomed the austerity package as a good start.

8.   More details of the austerity package are to be released Tuesday, he said.

9.   Stocks could recover if the government wins a mandate from parliament to enact the austerity package it introduced last week, Prokop said.

10.   The austerity package raised taxes, eliminated subsidies and boosted rates for electricity, fuel and phone service.