ROMANIAN Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea bowed to public demands to resign yesterday in the wake of two deadly accidents.

Over 20,000 protested on the streets of the capital Bucharest on Tuesday evening, demanding that the government take responsibility for the failings that allowed a fire to break out at a heavy metal concert and kill 32 people and injure over 100.

Mr Oprea had been facing calls to resign after a policeman escorting his motorcade died in an accident on October 20.

“We decided to listen to the voice of the street and to resign,” he said, adding that he and the prime minister had made the decision alone as the mass protests took place.

Mr Ponta announced yesterday morning that the entire government would resign and Mr Oprea ruled out taking part in a future administration.

Liberal Party co-leader Alina Gorghiu said that her party wanted elections “to resolve the crisis we find ourselves in.”

However, she said that she wanted a broad political agreement with other parties for the proposal.

“We want a new parliament legitimised by a popular vote. We need a new start,” said Ms Gorghiu, adding that the Liberals would discuss the situation with leaders from other political parties.

Cristian Popescu Piedone, the mayor of the district where the club hosting the concert was located, also resigned, saying that he was morally guilty for the deadliest fire in Romania’s history.

“I assume the moral blame. As for the legal blame, I will leave it to justice to pronounce.”

He had also come under pressure to step down during the mass protests, with demonstrators blaming widespread corruption for health and safety lapses that precipitated the deadly blaze.

He is a member of the National Union for the Progress of Romania, which is in the governing coalition.

President Klaus Iohannis will name a prime minister to form a new government, which needs parliamentary approval.

If this fails twice, early elections will be called. Romania is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in December 2016.