Romania govt collapses as coalition partner quits

The comments were widely interpreted as an accusation that Boc’s Liberal Democrats might try to cheat to get President Traian Basescu re-elected.

Geoana blamed Basescu for instigating the political crisis ahead of elections,saying that it created further uncertainty in Romania.

The country is mired in a deep recession,and is dependent on a loan from the International Monetary Fund to pay state sector salaries. In recent weeks there have been protests and strikes by railway workers,magistrates and some public workers.

Liberal Democrat Adriean Videanu,who is economy minister,said the Social Democrats were to blame for ths crisis and called the party “hypocritical” for walking out.

Basescu called the two parties to mediate On Tuesday and suggested that a politically independent minister or a minister from an opposition party be named. The Social Democrats refused.

According to a coalition agreement between the two parties the interior ministry is led by the Social Democrats.

Boc named Vasile Blaga,a Liberal Democrat who is close to Basescu,as the interim interior minister Tuesday.

The ministry is one of the country’s most powerful because it controls a controversial domestic intelligence agency and has almost 200,000 employees.

Both Basescu and Geoana are expected to run in the presidential elections.