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Romanian anti-government protests swell as clashes break out in Bucharest Romanian anti-government protests swell as clashes break out in Bucharest
(35 minutes later)
Clashes broke out in Bucharest overnight after a second night of protests saw hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate across Romania against a government decree that many say will blunt anti-corruption efforts and give politicians free rein to commit crimes. Clashes broke out in Bucharest overnight after a second day of protests saw hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate across Romania against a government decree that many say will blunt anti-corruption efforts and give politicians free rein to commit crimes.
In the largest demonstrations since the fall of communism in 1989, as many as 300,000 people braved sub-zero temperatures to participate in protests across 50 towns and cities, including 150,000 in the capital. There were shouts of “Thieves!” and calls for politicians to be locked up.In the largest demonstrations since the fall of communism in 1989, as many as 300,000 people braved sub-zero temperatures to participate in protests across 50 towns and cities, including 150,000 in the capital. There were shouts of “Thieves!” and calls for politicians to be locked up.
In Bucharest the protests ended in clashes between the police and small groups of demonstrators. Five people were reportedly injured.In Bucharest the protests ended in clashes between the police and small groups of demonstrators. Five people were reportedly injured.
On Tuesday night the Romanian government passed an emergency ordinance that would, among other things, decriminalise cases of official misconduct in which the financial damage is less than 200,000 lei (£38,000). Further laws could see an amnesty for some prisoners serving sentences of less than five years, and sentences halved for those over 60. On Tuesday night the Romanian government passed an emergency ordinance that would, among other things, decriminalise cases of official misconduct in which the financial damage is less than 200,000 lei (£38,000). The decree is due to take effect in a little over one week.
Many worry that these changes will reverse an anti-corruption push in Romania that has drawn widespread praise. On Wednesday, opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion against the government. The government says the order, and a draft bill on jail pardons, are needed to ease prison overcrowding and bring the criminal code into line with recent constitutional court rulings.
Romania’s government, led by the Social Democrats (PSD), has only been in office a few weeks after the party bounced back in elections on 11 December, barely a year since mass protests forced it from office. But many worry that the changes will reverse an anti-corruption push in Romania that saw the then PM Victor Ponta go on trial in 2015 over alleged tax evasion and money laundering, charges he denies.
On Wednesday opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion against the government, which is led by the Social Democrats (PSD) and has only been in office a few weeks. The PSD bounced back in elections on 11 December, barely a year since mass protests forced it from office.
Romania’s president said on Thursday he would ask judges to declare the decree unconstitutional. Klaus Iohannis said he would take the decree to the constitutional court, which is the last legal resort to stop the law.
The PSD leader, Liviu Dragnea, is among those set to benefit from the ordinance. The 54-year-old is currently on trial for alleged abuse of power and is already barred from office because of a two-year suspended jail sentence for electoral fraud handed down last year. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to the latest charges.The PSD leader, Liviu Dragnea, is among those set to benefit from the ordinance. The 54-year-old is currently on trial for alleged abuse of power and is already barred from office because of a two-year suspended jail sentence for electoral fraud handed down last year. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to the latest charges.
The ordinance has set off alarm bells in Brussels and elsewhere. On Wednesday the European commission chief, Jean-Claude Juncker, and his deputy issued a statement expressing “great concern” over the development. “The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone,” the statement said. The ordinance has set off alarm bells in Brussels and elsewhere. On Wednesday the European commission chief, Jean-Claude Juncker, and his deputy issued a statement expressing “great concern”. “The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone,” the statement said.
On Thursday the British embassy in Bucharest said it would be concerned if the ordinance “were to shrink the scope of corruption offences”. “We are also concerned by the very limited nature of consultations with all relevant stakeholders,” a statement added.On Thursday the British embassy in Bucharest said it would be concerned if the ordinance “were to shrink the scope of corruption offences”. “We are also concerned by the very limited nature of consultations with all relevant stakeholders,” a statement added.
Florin Jianu, Romania’s business environment minister, has resigned over the issue, writing on Facebook: “I don’t want to have to tell my child that I was a coward and I agreed to something that I don’t believe in.”Florin Jianu, Romania’s business environment minister, has resigned over the issue, writing on Facebook: “I don’t want to have to tell my child that I was a coward and I agreed to something that I don’t believe in.”
Justice minister Florin Iordache, who has come under fire for publishing the decrees, will temporarily hand his duties over to a subordinate in the ministry, spokeswoman Carmen Lita said. She said it was because he had a heavy workload preparing this year’s budget.
The protests on Tuesday and Wednesday follow a demonstration last Sunday that drew 40,000 people, including 20,000 in the capital, and another a week earlier involving more than 15,000. More protests are expected later on Thursday.The protests on Tuesday and Wednesday follow a demonstration last Sunday that drew 40,000 people, including 20,000 in the capital, and another a week earlier involving more than 15,000. More protests are expected later on Thursday.
“The size of the protests and the range of protesters is hugely significant and shows the depth and breadth of anger,” said Dan Brett, an associate professor at the Open University. “However, [those] who [might] benefit from the law have no interest in backing down. They are working on the assumption that as with most protests they will soon fizzle out and so can be ignored.”“The size of the protests and the range of protesters is hugely significant and shows the depth and breadth of anger,” said Dan Brett, an associate professor at the Open University. “However, [those] who [might] benefit from the law have no interest in backing down. They are working on the assumption that as with most protests they will soon fizzle out and so can be ignored.”