Dragos Anastasiu's resignation from the position of deputy prime minister represents a gesture of 'moral hygiene', said the spokesman for the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), deputy Dan Tanasa.

'After days of keeping silent and of defying Romanians, Dragos Anastasiu resigned, as AUR publicly demanded in an open letter. It was a gesture of moral hygiene on the part of a deputy prime minister who has paid bribes for eight years in order to get bypassed by state control institutions. It's a minimal gesture of decency he made, although forced by evidence and public pressure. But the lamentable way how he tried to justify his actions shows exactly why Romania has been stuck for 35 years between 'survival bribes' and 'enrichment bribes'. To serenely state that 'you gave a bribe so that your company would not be shut down', as if you were a national hero who saves employees, shows contempt for the law, for the honest Romanians and for all entrepreneurs who respect the rules and duly pay their taxes. It's a shameful attempt to transform bribery into sacrifice. To transform corruption into martyrdom,' the deputy said in a release.

According to him, 'throughout his speech, Dragos Anastasiu has formalized the survival bribe as an instrument in the relationship with the state.'

'We are now left with four deputy prime ministers. Four decorative positions, four straw figures in a government that cuts salaries, pensions and subsidies for honest people, but maintains privileges for the self-serving. Romanians can no longer be fooled. One is out. Who's next?' AUR spokesman Dan Tanasa said.

Deputy Prime Minister Dragos Anastasiu announced his resignation from office on Sunday afternoon, arguing that he can no longer accept 'being denigrated and thus having the image of the Romanian Government discredited'. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Catalina Matei; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)