Romanian Nightclub Fire: PM Victor Ponta Resigns After Deadly Blaze

The deadly nightclub fire Friday night that resulted in the death of 32 partygoers and another nearly 200 injured in Bucharest has toppled the government of Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta. After a day of protests against the government for what tens of thousands believe to be negligence and corruption on the part of local and state officials, the PM and his government have stepped down.

Ponta made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday morning, putting the blame squarely on himself and not those around him.

"I must admit that there is a legitimate anger in our society and also a legitimate urge to take bigger responsibility than the owners of that nightclub. People want more than that and, for me, it would be a big error to ignore it," Ponta told reporters via CNN.

The nightclub fire at Collectiv, where the metal band Goodbye to Gravity played a free show on Friday, appears to have been the straw that broke the camel's back for Ponta. He has already survived two no confidence votes during his tenure and in September, he became the first sitting Romanian prime minister to go on trial for corruption. He faces allegations of fraud, money laundering and tax evasion.

The three owners of the nightclub have already been arrested on charges of suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities are accusing them of creating an unsafe environment and skirting safety rules by using flammable insulation and allowing the club to be way over capacity.

Current president Klaud Iohannis, who described the venue as "completely unfit" to host a concert, will name an interim prime minister. Ponta will remain PM during the transition period that could run smoothly if his party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) keeps its coalition and power-sharing agreement with its partner, the UNPR.

"We back our coalition further and are available to create a new government majority alongside the PSD," said the UNPR via The BBC.