Fade
10-01-2009, 10:46 AM
Romania gov't collapses as coalition partner quits
Oct 1 10:24 AM US/Eastern
By ALISON MUTLER
Associated Press Writer
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Romania's coalition government collapsed Thursday after nine ministers from the Social Democrats quit to protest the firing of the interior minister for comments about possible election fraud.
Social Democratic Party leader Mircea Geoana said the ministers resigned "in solidarity" with Dan Nica, a party member fired by Prime Minister Emil Boc on Monday over a statement he made about potential fraud in the upcoming Nov. 22 election.
The comments were widely interpreted as an accusation that Boc's Liberal Democrats might try to cheat to get President Traian Basescu re-elected.
The coalition collapse goes far beyond the ministers.
Thousands of Social Democrats will now lose their jobs in national and local posts throughout Romania.
Geoana blamed Basescu for instigating the political crisis, saying it created further uncertainty in Romania ahead of the election.
"Throwing Romania in this political crisis will have grave effects," said Nica, who was also deputy prime minister, as he stood with the ministers who resigned. "Each minister tried to do their duty."Article continued at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9B2BN682&show_article=1&catnum=0
Oct 1 10:24 AM US/Eastern
By ALISON MUTLER
Associated Press Writer
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Romania's coalition government collapsed Thursday after nine ministers from the Social Democrats quit to protest the firing of the interior minister for comments about possible election fraud.
Social Democratic Party leader Mircea Geoana said the ministers resigned "in solidarity" with Dan Nica, a party member fired by Prime Minister Emil Boc on Monday over a statement he made about potential fraud in the upcoming Nov. 22 election.
The comments were widely interpreted as an accusation that Boc's Liberal Democrats might try to cheat to get President Traian Basescu re-elected.
The coalition collapse goes far beyond the ministers.
Thousands of Social Democrats will now lose their jobs in national and local posts throughout Romania.
Geoana blamed Basescu for instigating the political crisis, saying it created further uncertainty in Romania ahead of the election.
"Throwing Romania in this political crisis will have grave effects," said Nica, who was also deputy prime minister, as he stood with the ministers who resigned. "Each minister tried to do their duty."Article continued at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9B2BN682&show_article=1&catnum=0