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| Romania protesters not backing down after decree repeal | Romania protesters not backing down after decree repeal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have rallied in Romania, despite the government revoking a controversial decree that fuelled their discontent. | |
| Earlier, the government scrapped the decree, which would have shielded many politicians from prosecution for corruption. | Earlier, the government scrapped the decree, which would have shielded many politicians from prosecution for corruption. |
| However, protesters remain unsatisfied and some are calling the left-wing government to resign. | However, protesters remain unsatisfied and some are calling the left-wing government to resign. |
| Recent days have seen Romania's largest protests since communism fell in 1989. | Recent days have seen Romania's largest protests since communism fell in 1989. |
| The decision to repeal the degree was confirmed at an emergency government meeting in the capital Bucharest. | The decision to repeal the degree was confirmed at an emergency government meeting in the capital Bucharest. |
| Strategic retreat or surrender? | Strategic retreat or surrender? |
| But protesters expressed concerns about the government's plans to redraft the law and send it for debate in parliament, where it could be forced through. | But protesters expressed concerns about the government's plans to redraft the law and send it for debate in parliament, where it could be forced through. |
| Huge crowds swelled in the capital's Victory Square for a sixth day in a row. Romanian TV estimates put the numbers demonstrating across the country at half a million. | |
| A giant laser beamed the words "Do Not Give Up" and "Resignation," on to the government building housing the prime minister's office. | A giant laser beamed the words "Do Not Give Up" and "Resignation," on to the government building housing the prime minister's office. |
| "This government is organised from the high level to the low like a mafia, and we don't want something like this," one protester, Profira Popo, told the Associated Press news agency. | "This government is organised from the high level to the low like a mafia, and we don't want something like this," one protester, Profira Popo, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| No calm after the storm, by BBC's Nick Thorpe in Bucharest | No calm after the storm, by BBC's Nick Thorpe in Bucharest |
| Sunday night's demonstration in Bucharest was planned as the climax of the protest movement. | Sunday night's demonstration in Bucharest was planned as the climax of the protest movement. |
| The government hoped that by scrapping the decree, calm would return to the streets of the country - but that hasn't happened yet. | The government hoped that by scrapping the decree, calm would return to the streets of the country - but that hasn't happened yet. |
| Many in the crowd don't trust the government to keep to its word. | Many in the crowd don't trust the government to keep to its word. |
| They are afraid that new legislation, promised by the prime minister when he abolished the decree, might contain some of the same elements in a different form. | They are afraid that new legislation, promised by the prime minister when he abolished the decree, might contain some of the same elements in a different form. |
| The decree would have decriminalised abuse of power offences where sums of less than €44,000 (£38,000; $47,500) were involved. | The decree would have decriminalised abuse of power offences where sums of less than €44,000 (£38,000; $47,500) were involved. |
| Critics saw it as an attempt by the government to let off many of its own officials caught in an anti-corruption drive. | Critics saw it as an attempt by the government to let off many of its own officials caught in an anti-corruption drive. |
| The government had argued that the changes were needed to reduce prison overcrowding and align certain laws with the constitution. | The government had argued that the changes were needed to reduce prison overcrowding and align certain laws with the constitution. |
| One immediate beneficiary would have been Liviu Dragnea, who leads the governing Social Democratic Party and faces charges of defrauding the state of €24,000. | One immediate beneficiary would have been Liviu Dragnea, who leads the governing Social Democratic Party and faces charges of defrauding the state of €24,000. |
| The decree was originally passed on Tuesday and was due to come into effect on 10 February. | The decree was originally passed on Tuesday and was due to come into effect on 10 February. |
| The constitutional court has still to rule, later this week, on the legality of the original decree. | The constitutional court has still to rule, later this week, on the legality of the original decree. |