PM Emil Boc announces his cabinet's resignation

Romania’s Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat Emil Boc, submitted on Monday the resignation of his entire cabinet. The decision came after over three weeks of street protests against the presidency and the government.

The Social Liberal coalition, in opposition, has also been taking a tougher stance during that period, going so far as to go on parliamentary strike, claiming the majority coalition led by the Liberal Democrats had governed in an abusive manner.

Emil Boc stated that he meant this gesture to reduce social and political tensions, saving the country’s economic stability.

In his opinion, this stability is reflected by the economic growth evidenced in 2011, one of the highest in the European Union. In addition, said PM Boc, the prospects for economic growth in 2012 are certain, and have been confirmed by the IMF and the EC.

The resignation of the Liberal Democratic Prime Minister comes right after the conclusions of the international lender mission from the IMF, EC and World Bank were issued. They were also the result of increasing struggle within the Liberal Democratic Party.

Important figures within the party had previously declared publicly that the party could recover some of its credibility in this election year if Boc’s government resigned. Their main argument was that Emil Boc was even more unpopular than President Traian Basescu.

The president is considered by public opinion as the de facto head of the government, a government which issued austerity measures and unpopular reforms that brought people out to the streets.

This is one reason for which the political worth of this government’s resignation is relative. It could mean quite a lot for the Liberal Democratic party, but it is too little for the people out in the streets to protest against the government and the president.

Sacrificing the prime minister may not be enough for the protesters. The street creates social and political pressure, continuing to call for President Basescu’s resignation and for early elections.

Opposition leaders, mostly in the Social Liberal Union, believe the government’s resignation is simply proof of its failure, and does not fundamentally change any part of the equation.

The majority coalition is now at its most difficult moment since its creation in 2009, after Traian Basescu was reelected as head of state.