Bucharest - Romania's Social Democrats said yesterday they were pulling out of the coalition government of the Prime Minister, Mr Victor Ciorbea, bringing to a head a crisis that has festered for more than a month.
"We are withdrawing our ministers but we will continue to support the government in parliament," said the Social Democrat leader, Mr Traian Basescu, who sparked the conflict with Mr Ciorbea's Christian Democrats. The party headed by former prime minister, Mr Petre Roman, announced its decision after several hours of talks with the President, Mr Emil Constantinescu, and other parties in the coalition government. The crisis erupted when Mr Ciorbea refused Social Democrat demands to reverse the dismissal of Mr Basescu, who was fired as transport minister in December.