Romanian Govt Coalition Member PSD Maintains Political Support For Dan Nica

The sources said social democrat leaders decided to maintain political support for current interior minister and deputy prime minister Dan Nica, and if Boc dismisses Nica, despite the PSD’s support, then all social democrat ministers will resign.

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday he informed coalition partners social democrats about his intention to replace Interior Minister Dan Nica and asked them to nominate a replacement within 24 hours.

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.

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”.

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.