Brussels, 06/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 6 February, Romanian President Traian Basescu appointed Justice Minister Catalin Prediou interim prime minister, following the resignation that same day of Emil Boc and his Centre-Right government “to ease the social situation” in the country, after weeks of protests over austerity measures. The resignation came despite the fact that the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were satisfied with the economic reforms he had introduced since 2010. “I know that I made difficult decisions, but the fruits have begun to appear”, Boc said.
He urged parliament to express its confidence in the new government as quickly as possible so that the stability of the country was not compromised. “We are open to any sensible suggestion that will bring early elections, but without leading to any further more serious deterioration of the situation”, said one of the deputy leaders of the Social Liberal Union (USL), the opposition party led by Victor Ponta. The USL last week began a parliamentary strike, stating that it would not return to the chamber until the governing coalition agreed to hold early elections.
Boc, 45, had held the post of prime minister since the end of 2008. He had come under increasing pressure from within his Liberal Democratic party as support for the government collapsed. (CG/transl.rt)