Bucharest District 4 mayor also resigns after nightclub tragedy

Shortly after Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced his resignationon Wednesday morning, Bucharest District 4 mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone also resigned. Both resignations came after thousands of people rallied the streets of Bucharest on Tuesday, November 3, asking the Government and the mayor to take responsibility for the tragic event at Colectiv Club. The nightclub was located in the capital’s District 4. “After all the reactions in the recent days, after all the emotions and the entirely justified fury expressed in the public space while looking for the guilty parties, after the rally organized in Bucharest yesterday, I present today my resignation from the position of District 4 mayor as a sign of respect for the victims of the tragedy,” the mayor said in a press release. He also said that he hoped that the administrative gaps and shortcomings would be a warning signal for all those who make or enforce the laws. Piedone also said that he felt sorry for his first reactions after the tragedy. “I realize now that it was not the best time to talk about documents. I confess, however, that I did that not because I wanted to save my skin, but because I wanted to clarify things as soon as possible, to inform the public about the documents related to the company that owned Colectiv Club, in terms of District 4’s competencies,” he said. Right after the fire at the nightclub in Bucharest, Cristian Popescu Piedone said that, from the City Hall’s point of view, the club was functioning legal, as it had the needed license for that. In the recent statement, Piedone also sent his condolences to the grieving families and wished health and power to those who have been struggling for life. Cristian Popescu Piedone has been serving as the mayor of Bucharest’s District 4 since 2008. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (Photo source: Cristian Popescu Piedone on Facebook)