Romanian Prime Minister Resigns in the Wake of Club Fire Catastrophe

As we previously reported, a club fire at a Goodbye to Gravity show in Bucharest has left 32 dead and over 130 in critical condition. Yesterday, the three owners of the club, Colectiv, were arrested due to the inadequate safety measures taken within the venue.

Today, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has resigned due to protests among the Romanian people, who claim that widespread government corruption and subpar safety standards at Colectiv and other venues in the country are what caused the disaster. Over 20,000 people marched in Bucharest last night, calling for something to be done about the government’s corruption.

Ponta said the following:

“I’m handing in my mandate, I’m resigning, and implicitly my government too. I am obliged to take note of the legitimate grievances which exist in society. I hope handing in my and my government’s mandate will satisfy the demands of protesters.

“I assume the moral blame. As for the legal blame, I will leave it to justice to pronounce.”

Ponta will stay on until President Klaus Iohannis names a new PM.

More news as it comes.

[via Metal Hammer]