Romania’s PM Resigns Amid Protests, Winter Deaths
Romania’s prime minister resigned Monday in the wake of weeks of public protests against austerity measures and a deadly spell of bitterly cold weather.
The resignation makes Romania the sixth European country to see a prime minister fall amid the debt crisis sweeping European Union member states.
Besides budgetary issues, criticism has also mounted over the government’s handling of a recent, and continuing, cold snap — including snow-clogged streets, widespread power outages and other problems that contributed to the deaths of at least 34 people.
Announcing his resignation on television, Prime Minister Emil Boc said he is not the kind of person to hang on to power, and that it is time to make space for another government.
He admitted making mistakes, but said he is sure Romania has a bright future.