Anti-corruption protest. NurPhoto SIPA US/PA Images. All rights reserved.Romania’s new government has been accused of passing a decree that could pave the way for corruption. On the 31 January, prime minister Sorin Grindeanu’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) decriminalised several corruption offences. The measure also removed criminal sanctions for abuses of power involving sums of less than 200,000 lei (£38,000). The move could see the release of dozens of officials imprisoned on corruption charges. It would also end the trial of PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, who stands accused of illegally procuring state salaries for two people between 2006 and 2013.
The government insists that the measure was introduced to combat overcrowding in prisons. Parliament had been debating its contents for several weeks. Late Tuesday night, however, the PSD used an emergency law to pass the decree. Some officials have refused to countenance the measure, including members of the Social Democratic Party itself. The prominent business and environment minister Florin Jianu has resigned in protest. Despite the growing outcry, the government has so far been unwilling to rescind its controversial revision to the law.
Hundreds of thousands of Romanians have taken to the streets in protest. In Bucharest protestors waved signs and chanted: “you did it in the night, like thieves!” The protests, which took place in several cities, have been the largest since the fall of communism in 1989. The decree will likely damage the reputation of the PSD, which was elected less than a month ago. While the party won with a decisive majority, the election was marred by low voter turnout.
