Romanian PM Wants Interior Min Replaced

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.
Mediafax