Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc has resigned after weeks of nationwide protests against austerity measures.
Mr Boc enforced the cuts, including slashing public salaries by a quarter and raising sales tax, to complete a €20bn International Monetary Fund bailout deal and boost the economy after a deep and bitter recession.
Thousands of Romanians have braved freezing temperatures in the last month to protest against Mr Boc and his ally, President Traian Basescu.
"It is the moment for important political decisions. From this point of view, I took the decision to give up the government's mandate," Mr Boc said in a speech after a government meeting.
His centrist PDL party scores less than 20% in opinion polls, with a parliamentary election due late this year.
The leftist USL opposition alliance has more than 50% support in opinion polls.
Its leader Victor Ponta last week said he wanted an early election and was committed to working with the IMF.
"It's very likely that the next prime minister will be a technocrat, probably from the central bank or even someone from the central intelligence services," said political commentator Mircea Marian.
"Boc's resignation doesn't mean there will necessarily be a domino effect.
"But the other ministers will have to make their own decisions on whether they will leave or hold out until the elections in the fall."
