BUCHAREST -- Romania sank deeper into political crisis Tuesday when Prime Minister Radu Vasile refused to quit, and the main leftist opposition party accused the president of violating the constitution by sacking him.
It said it would walk out of parliament and called for new elections.Vasile, dismissed as prime minister by President Emil Constantinescu earlier in the day after a revolt by his Christian Democrat party, insisted he was still premier.
"I very firmly declare that the presidency has breached the constitution. I consider myself the prime minister," he told state radio in a telephone interview. "I will present this abuse to the Senate," he added.
Ion Iliescu, leader of the main leftist opposition Party of Social Democracy, said Constantinescu had violated the constitution when he sacked Vasile after a revolt by the Christian Democrats, the main party in the ruling coalition.
"The president has clearly violated the constitution. Consequently, the PDSR will withdraw from both chambers of parliament until the president cancels the dismissal decrees," Iliescu told reporters.
Political analyst Horia Alexandrescu told ProTV television: "This is a typical Romanian circus and our image in the world is ridiculous."
Vasile did not elaborate on his next moves, but a source close to the government said he planned to call an extraordinary party congress. Antena 1 television said Vasile would ask for a censure motion in parliament as the "only way to be sacked," and take his case to the Constitutional Court.
Vasile, prime minister since March 1998, has been criticized for perceived failure to revive the economy or improve living standards 10 years after the fall of communism.
Vasile's opponents hope a new leader will speed efforts to whip the economy into shape for EU membership.
Constantinescu appointed Labor Minister Alexandru Athanasiu as interim prime minister and asked all ministers to keep their jobs until a new cabinet was named.
Christian Democrat members of parliament belonging to Vasile's modernizing wing said about half of the party's local branches backed him.
The Christian Democrats Tuesday met Constantinescu and their allies in the coalition--the Liberals, Social Democrats and ethnic Hungarians--to choose a candidate to replace Vasile.
To maintain a semblance of normality, Athanasiu chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss "routine issues." The agenda included the organization of Christmas parties and aid for earthquake victims in Turkey.
Vasile's dismissal was challenged by the main author of Romania's post-communist constitution, Antonie Iorgovan. He told state radio that under the constitution, Vasile was still prime minister. He said Constantinescu's decision was "null."
But Liberal Justice Minister Valeriu Stoica said the decision was legal: "The decision of President Constantinescu is in line with the Constitution."
"Prime Minister Radu Vasile is unable to fulfill his duties as the majority of his cabinet members have resigned, which makes the government unable to function," Constantinescu's spokesman said earlier, adding that the constitution required the prime minister to resign if all ministers quit.
But Vasile retorted: "How come the ministers who resigned have returned to work and the cabinet functions but I'm dismissed?"