Basescu: Police Layoff Bill Rejection Shows Weakness In Ruling Coalition

05.26.2011 By Gavrila Oana

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday on public radio the Parliament’s failure to pass a bill laying off police officers shows weakness in the ruling coalition and comes at a bad time.

The bill on layoffs in the Romanian Interior Ministry received too few votes in the Chamber of Deputies Tuesday and did not pass. It received 150 votes for, 132 against and eight abstentions, but needed 167 votes in favor to pass.

Basescu said the rejection of the bill is a sign of weakness of the ruling coalition and comes at a bad time, as Romania seeks to get EUR1 billion from international markets.

The president said the rejection of the bill that would have reformed the country's police force sends signals of political instability, adding political stability is essential for a country like Romania, which has not yet emerged from the crisis.

The bill, which was also rejected by the Senate, stipulated the layoff of 18,000 Interior Ministry employees this year.