Romania’s transport minister has resigned over controversial comments he made criticising his countrymen living abroad.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> Rus has since apologised saying he wanted to highlight a serious situation.<br /><br /> The resignation came on the eve of a parliamentary confidence vote in Victor Ponta’s government.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> That move prompted criticism of Romania’s commitment to fighting corruption.<br /><br /> In a report published early this year, the European Commission praised progress made particularly in tackling high-level cor
