Romanian government resigns after blaze
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s government collapsed Wednesday after thousands of people took to the streets to protest a deadly fire at a heavy-metal concert, the final straw after a five-month corruption investigation that has shaken the nation.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said he and his government would resign “to take note of the legitimate grievances which exist in society,” adding: “I hope handing in my and my government’s mandate will satisfy the demands of protesters.”
But thousands of people turned out for new protests Wednesday evening, demanding early elections and more accountability in government.
Even before last weekend’s fire, the deadliest in Romania’s history, Ponta faced widespread calls to resign as he was indicted on charges including tax evasion, money laundering, conflict of interest and making false statements. The charges relate to activities in 2007 and 2008, when he was a lawmaker and a lawyer. Ponta denies wrongdoing.
Then came the fire Friday night at the basement Colectiv nightclub, which sent panicked people stampeding for the single exit. The death toll stands at 32, with about 130 more hospitalized, dozens of them in serious or critical condition. The club’s three owners have been detained on manslaughter charges, accused of failing to comply with fire regulations. Many Romanians also suspect authorities of taking bribes to overlook the violations.
After three days of mourning, about 20,000 protesters took to the streets Tuesday night, shouting “Assassins!” and waving Romanian flags.
“It is not normal in a European Union country for our children to die like this,” said Mariana Draghici, a security guard who took part in the protest. “Something has to change in Romania.”
Ponta, who had resisted earlier calls from President Klaus Iohannis to resign, stepped down hours later but warned that the collapse of his government could lead to instability.
Alina Inayeh, an analyst in Bucharest for the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said the resignation was a response to public anger but was also politically convenient for Ponta.
“He’d put himself in a position without any way of exiting honorably,” she said. “By resigning today, he makes it look like an honorable and statesmanlike decision, taking responsibility for what happened in the nightclub. It’s a way of saving face.”
“We have turbulence, uncertainty and unrest,” he said. “We risk ruining everything we built.”
Iohannis said that if fire regulations had been respected, “nobody would have died,” calling it a shame that so many had to die before the government caved in to the pressure.
On Wednesday evening, thousands massed in Bucharest’s University Square and in at least three other cities, calling for early elections and better governance.
“I believe in a clean Romania, a dignified Romania, where citizens are respected,” said Alexandru Ispas, a 23-year-old history student.
Romania is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in December 2016, but some are now predicting they could be held as early as the spring, with an interim Cabinet in place until then.
“I think it is likely that early elections will happen in the spring, with maybe the head of the central bank, Mugur Isarescu, acting as caretaker prime minister until then,” said Cristian Ghinea, director of the Romanian Center for European Policies, a research group.
Others disagree, suggesting that parliament would see out its full term, with a Cabinet led by either a caretaker or a Social Democrat minority coalition.
Adrian Moraru, deputy director of the Institute for Public Policy in Bucharest, said he thought early elections were unlikely.
“It would be a first for Romania,” he said, “but then this is the first time a prime minister has resigned due to street protests.”
The protesters also criticized the Romanian Orthodox Church, accusing it of failing to address an outpouring of national grief.
“We want hospitals, not cathedrals!” they chanted.
In a day of resignations, the mayor of the district where the nightclub is located stepped down, saying he felt morally guilty for the fire. The interior minister, who was already under fire over the death of a police motorcyclist who died in a crash while escorting the minister’s car, also resigned and said he would take no part in a future government.