Romania's interior minister resigned Monday following a political row sparked when thousands of police took part in an unauthorised protest march on the presidential palace. The resignation of Vasily Blaga immediately heightened concerns about Romania's entry into Europe's visa-free travel zone, scheduled for March next year, local media reported.
"This morning I have tendered my resignation, as a gesture of honour," said the minister, whose department was blamed by President Traian Basescu for police "indicipline" during Friday's march to protest swingeing pay cuts.
Police in uniform had chanted anti-government slogans outside Basescu's official residence. An emotional Blaga said he was stepping down to avoid drawing fire on the interior ministry when it was "facing its biggest challenge since Romania's entry into the European Union" - the country's adhesion to the Schengen zone. "I respect the policemen's right to demonstrate but only in a legal framework," Blaga told a press conference in Bucharest. "There must be no suspicions hanging over the ministry at this time," he said, pledging that Romania would make up lost ground on Schengen.