(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)


BY KEVIN DUBOUIS

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

Romania’s prime minister Emil Boc resigned Monday after weeks of protests. He is the sixth European prime minister to lose his office since the debt crisis hit Europe in 2009. Euronews explains Boc’s decision.

“Announcing his resignation, he said he hoped the decision would ease political and social tension and ensure the country's economic stability.”

Boc admitted he made mistakes but says he sees a bright future for Romania. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has his statement.

“I believe that this government did its duty … I believe it's time to make room for a new government that should consolidate the results of our work and be more popular, since there are no more austerity measures to be taken.”

Boc said he was happy with the measures the government took to reduce the budget deficit, but thousands of people have been protesting against them since January. In 2009, the government accepted a $26 billion loan from the EU and the IMF to help pay salaries and pensions, then raised sales taxes and cut public sector salaries by 25 percent.

Financial Times explains the country’s situation.

“The country pushed through some of Europe’s toughest austerity measures and endured one of the continent’s longest recessions. After joining the EU in 2007, it remains the union’s second-poorest member...”

And CNN reports -- the government’s popularity took another hit due to the recent extreme weather.

“ … criticism has also mounted over the government's handling of a recent, and continuing, cold snap -- including snow-clogged streets, widespread power outages and other problems that contributed to the deaths of at least 34 people.”

According to the opposition parties, the prime minister’s resignation isn’t enough to make up for the government’s failings.

“Opposition leaders are calling on President Traian Basescu (Trayan Basescu) to step down as well. Crin Antonescu (Krin Antonesku), who heads the opposition Liberal Party, called it ‘the most corrupt, incompetent and lying government’ since the 1989 revolt against communism ...”

The new prime minister has 60 days to get a government approved by parliament. But opposition leaders say they aren’t willing to support the new government. Al Jazeera explains what else could happen.

“For now, Basescu has named Romania’s justice minister as caretaker premier, but Basescu may well try to appoint a technocrat to the job and bring forward parliamentary elections that are due by November.”

The current government is polling around 20 percent approval, and is expected to take a big hit in the elections.