Romanian Prime Minister Resigns In Wake Of Fatal Rock Club Fire

The former prime minister quit as a few 25,000 people in Bucharest and thousands more in other cities held mass protests over the Bucharest nightclub fire, which killed 32 and injured hundreds on Friday.

President Klaus Iohannis named Campeanu to lead a temporary administration ahead of talks with political parties, due to begin Thursday afternoon, over who should form a new government. In addition, he will also meet representatives of civil society to factor in their views.

The resignation of Ponta is only the first step for the Romanian people who are looking to once again have faith in their government.

But the protesters aren’t just looking for resignations.

In Bucharest, Romania held a large anti-government rally.

The premier’s departure will require formation of a new government, but the junior party in the current governing coalition, the UNPR, said it was willing to keep supporting the coalition after his resignation. A few 90 people remain hospitalized in serious or critical condition in hospitals around the capital, many suffering from burns.

The ambassador’s statements come as Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said he was reaching out to civic organizations and NGOs to address the country’s political climate.

Protesters have been on the streets since Tuesday.

Romania’s National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) accused Ponta of receiving $61,000 from a close ally and former minister Dan Sova, who had been under investigation for his firm’s contracts with two energy companies for more than a year.

Analyst Ciprian Ciucu of the Romanian Centre for European Policies said the cumulative pressure of the graft scandal and anger over the nightclub disaster had caused Ponta to resign.

While he is no longer premier, Ponta remains a member of parliament and continues to enjoy immunity. “If there are no clean politicians at the moment, then let’s have a technocratic government formed from the many specialised people we have in our country”, said protester, Bogdan.

Defence Minister Mircea Dusa will take over as an interim leader to handle administrative work until a new government is voted in parliament.