Moonwalking lawmaker told to put dancing shoes away

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A moonwalking politician might not be the best reason to pay attention to Romanian politics, but the antics seem to be working.

Edmond Talmacean, a 40-year-old Bucharest politician, has inspired national headlines with his Michael Jackson-inspired moonwalk on a television show and his impersonations of the late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

His impersonation of a well-known sports commentator during a serious political debate also stunned other lawmakers into silence.

"Dancing is another kind of political message to appeal to the younger generation, that it is good to have fun ... that you can go to a disco and dance," Talmacean told The Associated Press on Monday.

Party bosses, however, say enough is enough and have ordered him to tone down.