Romanian PM Wants Interior Min Replaced

Boc explained the decision pointing to the poor state of public safety and rebuked the minister for his recent statements regarding fraud at the upcoming presidential elections.

Boc asked the Social Democratic Party to nominate in 24 hours a replacement for the seat of interior minister.

Boc said that the governing program states that the task of the Interior Minister is to increase the safety degree and the protection of citizens. He said that unfortunately the public safety has suffered lately.

"People feel threatened in the streets, and, moreover, the crime rate has increased by at least 13% on the year in 2009. Streets have gotten out of hand, crime has grown, especially crimes that we haven't had so far - robbery, armed robbery and others of this kind," Boc said.

Boc added a new impulse is needed to regain the citizens' trust in the state administration and its protection.

Nica, who is also the country's deputy prime minister, said Friday that he has information according to which no bus can be rented between November 22 and December 6, adding that Romanians are either going to monasteries or someone has decided to organize "electoral tourism".

Investigations proved however that the statements of the minister have nothing to do with reality, Boc said.

Nica, who was appointed on February 5, 2009 and has occupied the deputy prime minster and interior minister seats, is the third social democrat to have led the Interior Ministry in this Cabinet.

Social democrat Gabriel Oprea was appointed interior minister on December 18, 2008, but was ousted from the party and from the government after just one month, because he appointed heads of intelligence departments in the ministry without consulting party leaders.

Oprea was replaced by Liviu Dragnea, who was appointed on January 20, 2009 and resigned after just ten days citing insufficient funds assigned to the ministry in this year's state budget.

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