News / EU

Romanians continue anti-government protests in capital

Monday, 20 February 2017 6:28 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 26 February 2017 7:06 AM ]

People protest against the government in Bucharest, Romania, February 12, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Thousands of Romanians have taken to the streets in harsh winter weather in the capital, Bucharest, for the 20th day to demand that the government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu step down.

Protesters gathered in front of the cabinet office on Sunday, chanting “resignation,” “We’ll be back every day” and “United, we save all of Romania.”

They also denounced the ruling Social Democratic Party, whose chairman, Liviu Dragnea, has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence for abuse of power.

Dragnea is one of the government officials who would have benefited from a controversial government proposal to decriminalize some corruption offenses.

That same proposal first sparked massive protests in the capital and elsewhere. While the decision has been scrapped, thousands of people have continued to rally and to update their demand for the withdrawal of the proposal to one for the resignation of the government. Demonstrators say they have no more trust in Grindeanu’s government.

Meanwhile, Romania’s parliament has approved a referendum on anti-corruption reforms proposed by right-wing President Klaus Iohannis, who has been critical of Grindeanu’s left-wing government.

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