District 4 mayor resigns, too

District 4 mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone, whose resignation has been constantly asked for in the past five days since the nightclub tragedy, resigned on Wednesday, however, a few hours after PM Ponta’s resignation. The Colectiv Club was located in District 4.

Piedone stated that he assumes the moral guilt for the Colectiv Club fire, but for the legal guilt he will let justice to have a say.

The resigning district mayor argues that following all reactions in the past days, after the emotion and anger that are totally justified, but also after Tuesday’s meeting in the Capital City, he is handing in his resignation from the District 4 city hall “as a token of respect for the tragedy’s victims.”

“I hope the legislative void and the administrative deficiencies will sound the alarm from the simplest clerk to the highest law-making body. Maybe when thousands of people are taking the streets and ask you to go and other thousands are calling the same on social media, it’s better to listen sometimes. I take this moral guilt, as for the legal one, I’ll let Justice have its say,” Piedone says in a press release, while sending condolences to the unconsoled families.

Cristian Popescu Piedone admitted he had made amistake by not resigning in the first day since the tragedy and that he would reproach this all his life. He argued it was the only way he could communicate, as he was moved and did not benefit of any psychological guidance.

The resigning mayor also said he regrets his first reactions after the nightclub fire, admitting it was not a proper moment to talk about papers.

PSD chairman Liviu Dragnea had lashed out at Popescu Piedone earlier in the morning over his denial to resign. “If a mayor refused to take any responsibility and chose to ignore the rising tide, we cannot be immune to that (…) I am wondering if, after the premier resigns, the District 4 mayor will also hand in his resignation. How many European leaders must resign so that Piedone should hand in his mandate?” Dragnea said.