Romania's Labor Minister Ioan Botis steps down after European funds scandal

The Romanian Labor Minister Ioan Botis (in picture) on Wednesday morning resigned from office, after a discussion with the Prime Minister Emil Boc. The PM suggested he should resign following the media scandal involving Botis' wife, who was engaged in an EU-funded project, according to Mediafax newswire. Botis said that his resignation is one based on honor, while also apologizing for the situation.“I’ve handed by resignation to the Prime Minister, but I have not had any discussions on a possible replacement”, said Ioan Botis. The scandal emerged on Monday evening, after Botis admitted on TV that his wife works with an NGO which is headquartered in their home and which had received a EUR 500,000 financing through an EU funds program under the management of the Labor Ministry. The minister however argued that funding for this project came in late October 2010 through the legal way, without him having influenced the outcome. Ioan Botis became Romania's Labor Minister in September 2010 after the departure of Mihai Seitan. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com