Romanian prime minister Emil Boc said on January 23 that he sacked foreign minister Teodor Baconschi over unflattering remarks about participants in anti-government protest rallies.

Speaking at an extraordinary session of parliament, called to debate the protests, which have now entered their second week, Boc said he apologised for the ham-fisted remarks of "some of my colleagues".

On January 15, the third day of the protests, Baconschi posted on his blog using harsh language about the opposition parties, in which he called protesters "the inept and stupid slums."

Baconschi had not been notified of his sacking in advance and was in Brussels, participating in a meeting of the European foreign affairs council. He told Romanian news agency Mediafax that he later was notified by phone, with Boc saying that it was a political decision and had nothing to do with Baconschi's track record as cabinet minister.

Romanian media quoted unnamed senior officials from the country's ruling party as saying that the topic had not been discussed previous to the parliament session by the party. A replacement for Baconschi would be named after consultations with president Traian Basescu, Boc said.

Opposition leaders welcomed Baconschi's sacking, but said that it was too little to late. Social-democrat leader Victor Ponta said that "protesters want solutions for their lives, not the government's image problems."

He said that the opposition MPs were prepared to resign their seats and called on the ruling majority to do the same, paving the way for early elections. The opposition coalitions of social-democrats and liberals have about 50 per cent support in public opinion polls and are expected to handily win in the next parliamentary elections, due in late 2012.