Romanian Interior Minister Resigns

Romania’s interior minister, social democrat Gabriel Oprea, said Tuesday he resigned from the position of minister, adding he will not accept to be a “puppet minister”.

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On Monday, the Social Democratic Party withdrew Oprea’s political support after he made key appointments within the ministry without consulting party leaders.

Social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said a proposal to oust Oprea from the party was submitted to the party’s integrity commission.

Oprea said he quit to allow the government to be a strong one an to have a coherent policy.

He said the appointments he made for positions in the ministry "bothered certain people", but the institution should work according to the national interest, not that of some group.

Oprea said the party appointed him for the minister position democratically, adding he acted "correctly and legally” when he appointed people for positions within the ministry and "did his duty towards the party correctly".

"I never acted against the party and outside party discipline,” Oprea said, adding he never criticized his fellow party members even though he didn’t always agree with their decisions.

Under the law, the minister is the one who proposes state secretaries and general managers within the Interior Ministry, and the prime minister appoints them.

"It is the minister’s right to propose people for these positions. I acted right and legally,” Oprea said.

"I decided to resign because I don’t want to create tensions that affect the governing coalition. This is what I believe in and I will never discard my dignity, honor and professionalism,” Oprea concluded.

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