Victor Ponta
Prime Minister, Victor Ponta has resigned, a day after some 20,000 people took to the streets to protest over a nightclub fire that left 32 people dead.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said: "I'm handing in my mandate, I'm resigning, and implicitly my government too. I hope the government's resignation will satisfy the people who came out in the streets."
Ponta said he would stay on until a new government is in place.President Klaus Iohannis will name a prime minister to form a new government, which needs to be approved by parliament.Romania is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in December 2016.
Ponta said he would stay on until a new government is in place.President Klaus Iohannis will name a prime minister to form a new government, which needs to be approved by parliament.Romania is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in December 2016.
Mr Ponta is already facing trial on corruption charges.In September, he became the first sitting Romanian prime minister to go on trial over allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.
He has denied the charges, accusing prosecutors of being "totally unprofessional".
He has denied the charges, accusing prosecutors of being "totally unprofessional".
Thousands of people rally in Bucharest on Tuesday, November 3
Deputy leader of the opposition Liberal Party, Catalin Predoiu, hailed the resignations. "This is a victory of the street. It is a lesson for all politicians," he said.
Cries of "shame on you" and "assassins" filled the streets of Bucharest as thousands of people rallied on Tuesday demanding cabinet resignations as the death toll from the fire at the Colectiv nightclub rose to 32.
Anger has been brewing for some time in Romania against the government, which many perceive as being corrupt, and Friday's fire has added to the discontent.
Three owners of the club have been arrested amid allegations that it was overcrowded, did not have enough emergency exits and may not have been authorised to hold such concerts.
Concerns that safety was compromised because of corruption, a long-standing issue in Romania, has fuelled public anger.