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[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/58319000/jpg/_58319985_013927847-1.jpg[/img]
[I]Emil Boc said his government had not taken part in a popularity contest[/I]
[B]Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc has stepped down to "defuse political and social tension" after a series of protests against austerity measures.[/B]
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, he said he had given up the government's mandate as "it is the moment for important political decisions".
Although Romania's economy grew last year, the government has been hit by three weeks of demonstrations.
Mr Boc has imposed a 25% cut in public sector wages and a freeze on pensions.
Sales tax was also increased to 24%, in a country seen as Europe's second poorest.
Romania said it needed to implement the measures to qualify for the next instalment of a 20bn-euro ($25bn; £17bn) bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a statement, Mr Boc, 45, said that in a time of crisis, his centrist government had not taken part in a popularity contest but had acted to save the country.
Elections in Romania are scheduled to take place in November and there is speculation that President Traian Basescu may seek to appoint a technocrat-led government until the vote.
Protests broke out last month, initially against the resignation of popular junior health minister Raed Arafat, but soon became an expression of discontent against austerity and corruption.
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16905151[/url]
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This government was wildly unpopular because it adopted necessary austerity measures. I'm at work right now and almost everyone spontaneously burst into applause when they heard the news. I didn't.
[QUOTE=zugu;34570834]This government was wildly unpopular because it adopted necessary austerity measures. I'm at work right now and almost everyone spontaneously burst into applause when they heard the news. I didn't.[/QUOTE]
Yes, these 'Centrists' do tend to say that austerity measures are needed to keep the country afloat, but has that actually worked anywhere or served the people any better than Keynesian policies would have? Perhaps you believe that such measures are necessary as well, as you seem to, but why do you think that?
Next: Basescu
This matters jack-shit when Basescu is still the president and he can appoint another PM. And he did, he appointed Ungureanu, another person that follows his every order, even if he's not a member of PDL.
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