Romania’s transport minister has resigned over controversial comments he made criticising his countrymen living abroad.
Ioan Rus caused uproar by saying that while three million Romanians worked as labourers in Western Europe, at home their children were becoming thugs and their wives prostitutes.
Romania is one of the EU’s poorest countries; it’s estimated a third of a million children are growing up with one of their parents abroad.
Rus has since apologised saying he wanted to highlight a serious situation.
The resignation came on the eve of a parliamentary confidence vote in Victor Ponta’s government.
The left-wing coalition’s large majority has already enabled the prime minister to keep his judicial immunity – effectively blocking a corruption investigation against him.
That move prompted criticism of Romania’s commitment to fighting corruption.
In a report published early this year, the European Commission praised progress made particularly in tackling high-level cor
