Romanian minister who called wives of expats "whores" and their children "vagabonds" resigns

BUCHAREST, Romania – The Romanian transportation minister has resigned after calling the wives of millions of Romanians working abroad "whores."

Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Thursday accepted the resignation of Ioan Rus a day after the minister said in a TV interview that the 3 million Romanians working abroad were sending remittances home to wives who were "whores" to pay for children who were "good-for-nothings."

The embattled Ponta was named June 5 as a possible corruption suspect, including money laundering and being an accomplice to tax evasion. Parliament voted to keep his immunity and he faces a vote of no-confidence Friday that he is expected to win.

The resignation of Rus is expected to help Ponta by showing he is responsive to wrongdoing from his ministers.