Entire Romanian government resigns after deadly Bucharest nightclub fire

Romania&#039;s entire government resigned after deadly nightclub fire

(Image credit: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Image)

On Wednesday, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta tendered his resignation, after a deadly nightclub fire last Friday sparked huge protests in Bucharest on Tuesday evening. "I'm handing in my mandate, I'm resigning, and implicitly my government too," Ponta said in a statement. "I hope the government's resignation will satisfy the people who came out in the streets," he added on Romanian TV. Ponta, battling corruption charges filed over the summer, was already widely unpopular before the tragedy at the Colectiv nightclub, but the fire was the catalyst that drew 20,000 people to the streets of Bucharest demanding his resignation. The fire and resulting stampede at Colectiv killed at least 32 people during a rock concert that reportedly included fireworks, and 130 or so people are still hospitalized.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.