Political dare triggers Crin Antonescu to resign from helm of Romania's Senate during vote for new Goverment

The head of the Romanian Senate Crin Antonescu, former political ally of the country's Prime Minister Victor Ponta, now turned enemy, resigned from the helm of the Senate on Wednesday, just before the vote to green light the new Government. Antonescu, who also wants to run for presidency this year, announced his resignation in the Parliament plenum, during the debates on the new Government team. Initially, his statement was more of a dare for PM Ponta, who previously said Antonescu at the helm of the Senate means the Social Liberal Union, the alliance which got both of them in their current seats, still exists. Antonescu thus dared Ponta, asking him to resign together from their positions. „Mr. Prime Minister Ponta, you see my presence at the helm of the Senate as a sign USL still goes on. Let me tell you, USL no longer exists. Are you brave enough, so that we're both convinced, to resigns together from the jobs we got via USL?” Antonescu himself then resigned, but stayed in the Parliament for the vote. „Even if I am no longer the Senate president, I am the same, even freer, without my hands tied. You, however, when no longer a Prime Minister, you're nothing,” Antonescu addressed the Prime Minister. In his turn, when talking about Antonescu's proposal to resign, Ponta reminded of the country's president, who in 2005 said he'd resign in five minutes, but never did. „Everyone should stay calm, I am not quitting today,” the PM concluded. The former political duo parted ways a week ago, after months of political disagreements, and half – said statements against each other. More about the recent Parliament vote on Romania's new Government, here, and about the split of the former Social Liberal Union alliance, here. editor@romania-insider.com