Victor Ponta looks on during a government meeting, after announcing his resignation, in Bucharest.

Reuters/Bucharest

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta quit on Wednesday, in a surprise move that will probably produce a new cabinet led by a technocrat, after street protesters demanded resignations over a deadly fire in a Bucharest nightclub at the weekend.

Ponta is the country's only sitting premier to face a trial for corruption, and he was already under pressure to quit from the political opposition and President Klaus Iohannis, who defeated him in last November's presidential election.

His departure might lead to a political realignment, although the coalition of three mainly leftist parties that form a majority in parliament showed no signs of a split. New elections are not due until December 2016.

After an emergency coalition meeting, their leader, Liviu Dragnea, said the priority was "to preserve stability" of the country. The next prime minister may not come from the party's ranks, Dragnea said.

"It would be very hard to propose and support a political person as prime minister anymore, he said.

Iohannis, the former leader of the opposition Liberals, has said his aim is to bring his party to power. The constitution allows him to nominate a new premier, who then needs to win a vote of confidence in parliament.

Elections unlikely

Early elections appear unlikely, although the risk does exist. They would be held only if parliament failed to approve two prime ministerial nominations by the president in votes of confidence within 60 days of the first nomination. No such snap poll has been held since the 1989 fall of communism.

Ponta stepped down to take responsibility for a fire in a nightclub on Friday night that had claimed the lives of 32 people by Tuesday and set off protests nationwide.

"I can carry any political battles, but I can't fight with the people," Ponta told reporters.

Angry about the way authorities grant permits and inspect public venues, protesters poured into the streets late into Tuesday night, carrying banners saying "Corruption Kills" and chanting "Murderers!" In Bucharest, about 25,000 people marched to government headquarters and the interior ministry on Tuesday.

"Victor Ponta is giving up his mandate," Dragnea told reporters in parliament. "Someone needs to assume responsibility for what has happened. This is a serious matter and we promise a quick resolution of the situation."

Ponta had ignored all calls to step down after being indicted in September for forgery, money laundering and serving as an accessory to tax evasion during his time as a lawyer. He is likely to face his first court hearings later in November.

Defence Minister Mircea Dusa will take over as an interim leader to handle administrative work until a new government is voted in parliament.