Romanian minister resigns after offensive statement about migrant workers

After making a statement which offended Romanians who work abroad, Romania’s Transport Minister Ioan Rus resigned on Thursday evening. The Minister had recently said during a TV show that Romanians abroad may make some EUR 1,500 a month, an amount for which children back home ‘turn hooligans and wives become prostitutes.’ The Minister was later criticized in the media for his statement. The association of Romanians abroad, as well as several opposing political parties asked for his resignation. Rus apologized for the statement via an official release, saying it was meant as a ‘positive and generous remark, not an attack.’ He apologized for having offended anybody with the way he phrased the idea. ‘My intention was to raise awareness towards a serious situation many Romanian families are facing, I was feeling sorry for them.’ After releasing the apologetic statement, the minister was called to the Prime Minister’s office and said en route that he might submit his resignation. Prime Minister Victor Ponta later announced on Facebook he accepted Rus’ resignation, and that he regretted the situation. A replacement for the helm of the Transport Ministry will be appointed next week, he added. Rus took over the Ministry a year ago, from Dan Sova, but failed to advance on any front with the country’s major infrastructure projects. editor@romania-insider.com