Titus Corlatean, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that he is retiring form office
At 11.30 a.m. (local time), Titus Corlatean gave a press statement, explaining his gesture.
The MAE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is maintaining its position that there is no legal basis regarding establishing new polling stations in round 2. Therefore, as Minister, I have the obligation to assure, with the MAE team, that the law is respected and that the image of the MAE is preserved, and consequently I informed Prime Minister Ponta, I decided to submit my office as Minister of Foreign Affairs. I cannot accept the fact that the MAE is breaking the law on the political considerations of Iohannis and Basescu and I cannot accept for the results of the 2nd round to be disputed on unconstitutionality considerations
Titus Corlatean
former minister of foreign affairs
More than 5.000 people, according to estimates of the Gendarmerie and the Police, over 10.000 according to the organizers, participated on Saturday in Cluj-Napoca, at a rally of solidarity with the Romanian diaspora who failed to vote in the first round of the presidential elections. Solidarity rallies were also held in Bucharest, Timisoara, Oradea, Iasi and Constanta, people chanting slogans against the government and demanding the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The protest in the capital, which began in the University Square and continued with a march towards the Government and MAE headquarters, then on Victoriei Road and Historical Center, ended after 5 hours, the demonstrators returning on Sunday afternoon as well, at the University.
Also on Sunday, the MAE sent through the press office that they gave to the Electoral Bureau for the polling stations abroad, the list of staff proposals for their offices, according to a BEC decision regarding the good organization of the 2nd round of the presidential elections. The organization and numbering of the polling stations abroad is the sole responsibility of the MAE, BEC not having any legal duties regarding those activities. MAE added, in the press release, that there are no legal impediments for the organization of new polling stations abroad, as the protesters demanded.