Romanian PM resigns

  • 05/11/2015
Victor Ponta (Reuters)
Victor Ponta (Reuters)

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has resigned after thousands of people took to the streets of Bucharest to protest over a nightclub fire that claimed 32 lives.

The blaze, which occurred last week, is believed to have started when a band performing at the club set off fireworks inside, the BBC reports.

The protestors called for Mr Ponta to step down, claiming government corruption and lack of 'safety supervision'.

"I'm handing in my mandate, I'm resigning, and implicitly my government too," Mr Ponta said in a statement obtained by the BBC.

"I hope the government's resignation will satisfy the people who came out in the streets," he added.

According to the BBC, in September Mr Ponta became the first sitting Romanian prime minister to go on trial charged with corruption.

He is facing allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering but is denying the charges.

He has also called the demonstrators "totally unprofessional", the BBC says.

The protesters also called for the resignation of the local mayor, as well as the Interior Minister. They both stood down yesterday (local time).

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