Nightclub deaths brings down Romanian Govt

Romania’s Government collapsed yesterday in the wake of the October 30 nightclub fire in which 32 died and about 130 were hospitalised in serious or critical conditions.

More than 20,000 people marched the streets of Bucharest in protest. The nightclub disaster was the final straw after a five-month investigation into deep-rooted institutional corruption.

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Prime Minister Victor Ponta said he and his Government would resign “to take note of the legitimate grievances which exist in society.” Ponta’s hope that the Government’s resignation “will satisfy the demands of protesters” proved wrong.In further rallies in four cities, there were calls for early elections and more accountability in government.

Ponta was already under pressure to resign as he was on trial on charges including tax evasion, money laundering, conflict of interest and making false statements from seven years ago when he was a lawyer and lawmaker.

The Colectiv is a basement nightclub which hosted the launch of local heavy metal band Goodbye to Gravity’s new album. Pyrotechnics ignited the foam décor, sending panicking patrons rushing to escape through a single exit door. Among the dead were the band’s guitarists Vlad Telea and Mihai Alexandru.

A three-day mourning period over the needless death of young Romanians gave way to anger. Romanian nightclubs are generally health hazards because safety measures are too expensive to install. The cheaper option is to bribe bureaucrats to overlook violations. For the sake of tourism, officials like to have as many clubs opened.

During the street protest outside Government offices, the crowd chanted “Assassins!” at officials. The Colectiv’s three owners were arrested on manslaughter charges for allegedly failing to comply with fire regulations. Two similar incidents had occurred at the club previously but no deaths or injuries had resulted.

Owners of three other nightclubs around the country – Expirat in Bucharest, La Baza in Iasi and Rockstadt in Brasov – publically apologised to patrons for years of endangering their safety through their recklessness. One has closed as a result, the other two promised to upgrade safety regulations.

The President of the country, Klaus Iohannis, promised to pay medical bills of the injured. He also presented blogger / photographer Claudiu Petre, and drummer Adrian Rugina the National Order for Merit for “the courage, altruism and dedication they showed …trying to save lives, paying the supreme sacrifice.” Both had repeatedly returned to the club to save people before dying themselves.

Anger over the nightclub fire not only spilled over to politics but to the powerful Romanian Orthodox Church. “We want hospitals, not cathedrals!” the street rally chanted.