Speaking after a cabinet meeting, he said he had given up the government’s mandate as “it is the moment for important political decisions”.

Although Romania’s economy grew last year, the government has been hit by widespread demonstrations.

Mr Boc has imposed a 25% cut in public sector wages and a freeze on pensions.

Sales tax was also increased to 24%, in a country seen as Europe’s second poorest.

[…] 

In a statement, Mr Boc, 45, said that in a time of crisis, his centrist government had not taken part in a popularity contest but had acted to save the country.

“I know that I made difficult decisions, but the fruits have begun to appear,” he said.

No, they have not begun to appear, because in order to produce such mysterious fruits you first have to pollinate. Also (fact vs. fiction no 2) certain fruits were rather abundant before the crisis, even survived it, only that before the strikes and protests, they had largely been reaped by the governing class, rather than by us, the common-folk, the people, the citizen kings and queens. 

3. The sacrifice

If a politician (to be substituted for respective party, or overseer/boss, capo di tutti capi) claims to have risked his/his party’s reputation and votes in order to “save the country” - let’s play a little game: fact or fiction? 

Could it simply be that finally some of the public’s desperation has seeped in to the political class? Could it be that they finally feel the threat? And not of the mob, because in the end, we’ve reached 2012 and (hopefully) nobody will strip them of their clothes. I’m referring to another threat, that of the real, of real lack, that minus 25%, the misery of cold and winter? Even worse, the missed future opportunities, that all inclusive retirement plan, cut cut cut off oh! how prematurely, that promised land of rolling fields and bank accounts, of smiling D&G clad butts and crotches..

So I really don’t think these guys deserve - yet another - break.