Interior Ministry devours its leader once again

Vasile Blaga, who had been Interior Minister from December 2009 until yesterday, announced his resignation after the illegal protests by police forces and the reaction of President Băsescu, which affected the image of the ‘most reliable institution of the state’, the Ministry of Administration and Interior. He was replaced by Traian Igaș, an almost unknown senator, who has never held any important public office. The Ministry was run by four ministers last year. The departure of Blaga therefore marks the departure of the Berceanu-Videanu-Blaga trio from the Government, i.e. the old guard of the Democratic-Liberal Party (PDL), and may lead to the onset of a serious political crisis. His resignation spurred President Băsescu into action, who called a meeting of the Supreme Defence Council for Thursday, to discuss Romania’s accession to the Schengen space, a process that might be hurt by the lack of credibility of the Ministry of Administration and Interior.