The Romanian prime minister has announced the resignation of his government following huge protests in the wake of a nightclub fire that killed more than 30 people.
“I’m handing in my mandate, I’m resigning, and implicitly my government too,” Victor Ponta said in a statement. He said he would stay on until a new government is in place.
“I am obliged to take note of the legitimate grievances which exist in society,” he said. “I hope handing in my and my government’s mandate will satisfy the demands of protesters.”
President Klaus Iohannis is to name a prime minister to form a new government, which needs to be approved by parliament. If this fails twice, snap elections will be called. Romania is due to hold parliamentary elections in December 2016.
The deputy leader of the opposition Liberal party, Cătălin Predoiu, hailed the resignations. “This is a victory of the street. It is a lesson for all politicians,” he said.
About 20,000 people took to the streets of Bucharest on Tuesday evening in a spontaneous protest calling for the resignation of Ponta, the interior minister, Gabriel Oprea, and the mayor of the district where the Colectiv nightclub was located.
They shouted “shame on you” and “assassins” and waved Romanian flags. Anger at the government has been growing for some time, with many perceiving it as being corrupt, and Friday’s fire has added to the discontent.
Iohannis wrote on his Facebook page late on Tuesday: “I understand what is being asked and what is expected, and they are right, someone has to take political responsibility.” He added: “The next step is for politicians, who cannot ignore this sentiment of revolt.”
Witnesses said the fire started during a heavy metal concert in the basement club when a spark from stage pyrotechnics ignited foam in the decor, sending people stampeding for the single-door exit. The death toll stands at 32, with 130 still in hospital, dozens in a serious or critical condition.
Source: The Guardian