Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta has resigned.

A tax fraud scandal saw him lose the Social Democrat Party leadership in October 2015 and he became the country’s first sitting premier to stand trial for corruption.

Mass protests following Friday’s (October 30) deadly nightclub fire, appear to have been the final straw.

At least 32 people died as a result of the Bucharest club blaze. Of the 130 people still hospitalised, dozens are said to be in a serious or critical condition.

Protesters blamed government corruption and poor safety precautions for the death toll and called on cabinet members to step down.

“Today, I am resigning and this includes, of course, the resignation of the entire Romanian government,” Ponta announced. “I am doing this because, in all the years I have been in politics, I put up resistance during conflict with political adversaries, but I have never fought against the people.”

Following Ponta’s resignation, junior coalition partner UNPR announced it would continue to back the ruling Social Democrats.

Its support ensures the coalition government will continue to hold a parliamentary majority.

By Sarah Joanne Taylor | With REUTERS

Euronews