Monday, 06 February 2012 11:47
Share Link: 
Emil Boc, Romania's prime minister, has resigned after weeks of nationwide protests against a slew of austerity measures and months before a parliamentary election.
"It is the moment for important political decisions. From this point of view, I took the decision to give up the government's mandate," Boc said in a speech after a government meeting on Monday.
Boc enforced the cuts, including slashing public salaries by a quarter and raising sales tax, to complete a $26.24bn International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout deal and boost the economy after a deep and bitter recession.
Thousands of Romanians have braved freezing temperatures in the last month to protest against Boc and his ally, President Traian Basescu.
The popularity of Boc's centrist PDL party has sunk to less than 20 per cent, according to opinion polls, with a parliamentary election due later this year.
Victor Ponta, leader of the leftist USL opposition alliance, told the Reuters news agency last week he wanted an early election and was committed to working with the IMF.
The opposition alliance has more than 50 per cent support in opinion polls.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Main_Menu
Other articles in Europe
French police probe scooter killings links 19 March 2012
Germany elects rights activist as president 18 March 2012
Belarus executes alleged subway bomber 17 March 2012
Deaths on migrant boat off Italy's Lampedusa 17 March 2012
Nazi camp guard Demjanjuk dies in Germany 17 March 2012
Bat-wielding man attacks mosque in France 16 March 2012
Belgium mourns victims of Swiss bus crash 16 March 2012
UK's Archbishop of Canterbury to step down 16 March 2012
Soldiers shot dead in southern France 16 March 2012
Moroccan arrested in Italy synagogue 'plot' 15 March 2012
Related
Featured_Author
Opinion
|
What is New in the Israel/Palestine Conflict |
| Richard Falk | |
|
Facebook SOBS or… 'Don’t Cry for Me Avaritia' |
| Ben Tanosborn | |
|
A Bird’s Eye View |
| Uri Avnery | |
|
Boycotting Australian Universities |
| Gideon Polya | |
|
US Displays Typical Fascist Characteristics |
| Sherwood Ross | |
|
Romney and Bain Capital |
| Sheldon Richman | |
|
Mutual Transparency to End the U.S.-Iranian Dispute |
| William deB. Mills | |
|
Iran Nuclear Talks in Baghdad |
| Stephen Lendman | |
|
Is Jeffrey Feltman Iran’s Best Friend in Lebanon? |
| Franklin Lamb | |
|
Staying Sober |
| Lawrence Davidson | |
|
NO NO NATO |
| Bob Boldt | |
Login
