Skip to main content
U.S. Edition
Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WORLD

Romanian government resigns

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

Romania
Europe

(CNN) -- Romania's prime minister on Thursday announced the resignation of his government and called for early elections, a move that came after a court failed to OK laws needed for entry into the European Union.

"We are returning to voters again, by handing in the government's resignation," said Calin Popescu Tariceanu, who called approval of the "justice reform laws" an important domestic effort.

In a written statement, the prime minister said members of the Constitutional Court were taking out "essential contents of the justice reform laws and in fact are preventing the incumbent government, held in high confidence by Parliament, from pursuing the reform process.

"With the justice reform process at a half, we do not stand a chance to get a favorable monitoring report enabling Romania to join the EU on January 1, 2007.

"Under these circumstances, there is only one way out: to return to the voters by tendering the government's resignation and wait for the people's decision," the prime minister is quoted as saying.

He said the vote will decide whether Romania wants to develop reforms or stay under the same "vile system." He said the court remains under the control of the Social Democratic Party.

Story Tools
Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time! cover
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
CNN U.S.
CNN TV E-mail Services CNN Mobile CNNAvantGo Ad Info About Us Preferences
Search
© 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more
Radio News Icon Download audio news  |  RSS Feed Add RSS headlines