Romanian President To Consult Constitutional Court Over Deadlock Involving Interior Min

Basescu's statement comes after the Bucharest Court of Appeals ruled Friday to suspend the presidential decree by which democrat liberal Vasile Blaga replaced social democrat Dan Nica at the headship of the Interior Ministry early October.

Basescu stressed the Parliament refuses to give its vote of confidence for a new government although the 45 days of ministers' interim terms in office expired and urged lawmakers "to convene at least one day and say "yes" or "no" to the country's new government."

"All constitutional solutions have already been depleted. I will have to consult with the Constitutional Court to find a way out of this situation. The country's Constitution contains no articles whatsoever for this type of institutional deadlock," Basescu added.

On October 1, Romania's President Traian Basescu signed the decrees dismissing Interior Minister Nica and appointing Blaga for interim interior minister.

Nica said on October 5 his dismissal from the headship of the Interior Ministry and the appointment of democrat liberal Development Minister Vasile Blaga as interim interior minister were achieved with two illegal decrees issued by the head of state.

Nica added the interim Government led by Emil Boc functioned illegally as the decree which overthrew him from the leadership of the Interior Ministry used the term revocation, while the decree appointing Blaga as interior minister used the term dismissal. Nica said the two terms differ according to the law on ministers' liability, in the way that revocation entails naming a tenurial minister and not an interim one.

The Interior Ministry organizes and oversees elections. Romania holds a second round of presidential elections Sunday, December 6, when Basescu will compete for a second term against social democrat leader Mircea Geoana.

The government led by Boc received a vote of no-confidence in Parliament on October 13 and is now running the country with limited powers until a new government is sworn in.

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