BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — The Romanian government is in an uproar — the interior minister has resigned, the opposition is demanding that the prime minister join him and top police officials are holding emergency talks with the president.
The chaos on Monday reflects the latest fallout from the sharp wage cuts and austerity measures the government has taken to fight its budget deficit amid a deep recession.
Interior Minister Vasile Blaga said police officers protesting a 25 percent wage cut last week had staged an illegal action and “forgot the oath they swore.”
Later, the top police chief and the head of the anti-riot police went to meet with President Traian Basescu.