Romanian Interior Minister resigns amid Basescu impeachment controversy

PanARMENIAN.Net - Romanian Interior Minister Ioan Rus resigned Monday, August 6 citing "unacceptable" pressures amid controversy over his ministry's organisation of an impeachment referendum against President Traian Basescu, AFP said.

"I have submitted my resignation for my own honour," said Rus, a member of Prime Minister Victor Ponta's centre-left coalition, the Social Liberal Union (USL).

Condemning "criticism and pressure" from political figures, including both suspended centre-right Basescu and interim president Crin Antonescu, Rus also announced the resignation of Victor Dobre, the junior interior minister tasked with organising the vote.

"We have been subjected to multiple forms of pressure, discussions, and criticism, coming from Romanian political figures from Traian Basescu to Crin Antonescu," he said.

After Rus's resignation, Ponta announced a cabinet reshuffle, replacing Rus by Mircea Dusa, whose post as minister for parliamentary relations will be taken over by Dan Sova, a senator with the ruling USL coalition and former spokesman for Ponta.

Justice Minister Titus Corlatean was moved to head the foreign ministry, replacing Andrei Marga, and Corlatean's job given to a judge, Mona Pivniceru.

Ponta said he regretted having to make the changes.

"I would have liked the government I appointed in May to have remained in place until the legislative elections planned for November," he said.

"But the exceptional situation caused by the actions of suspended president Traian Basescu has forced us to adapt."

Romanian politics have been thrown into turmoil by the July 29 impeachment referendum organised by Ponta's government to remove Basescu, which has been sharply criticised by the European Union and the United States.