Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu reversed a decision to resign and said on Tuesday he would ask parliament for a vote of confidence to stay on and lead reconstruction after floods hit the country. Tariceanu said this month he would resign to pave the way for early elections because he was frustrated with the slow pace of justice reforms needed for European Union entry in 2007, and that procedures to trigger the polls would start after his return from a visit to Brussels on Monday, according to Reuters. "When I announced my resignation I didn't have the prospect of a country affected by floods," Tariceanu told reporters at government headquarters on Tuesday. "I will ask for a joint session of parliament. I will go in front of the chambers of parliament with a ... statement on rebuilding the country after the floods, EU integration and justice reform for which I will take responsibility," he said. He said a joint parliament meeting for the confidence vote could be called on Thursday. President Traian Basescu, who has advocated early elections ever since the government came into power last December, said in a statement snap polls would have ensured a strong majority in parliament, needed to pass reforms.
