Romanians protest decriminalizing of graft offenses

Thousands of people in Romania have hit the streets to denounce a decision by the newly-elected government to reduce penalties for graft and abuse of power offences.

On Tuesday, angry protesters gathered outside government headquarters in the capital, Bucharest, shouting “thieves” and “traitors” to condemn authorities.

They also demanded an immediate reversal of the controversial decision, which will decriminalize graft cases totaling less than 38,000 euros (40,000 dollars).

The decision, introduced in an emergency law, bypasses the parliament.

In a related decision, the government also plans to pardon convicts sentenced to less than five years and reduce sentences for prisoners over 60 in addition to those having terminal diseases, regardless of their crimes.

That plan needs parliamentary approval. And it sparked massive protests of its own across the capital Bucharest, and other main cities, including Cluj and Timosoara, on Sunday.

In December last year, Romania’s leftist Social Democrat Party (PSD) won the majority of parliament seats, and President Klaus Iohannis named leftist Sorin Grindeanu as the country’s new prime minister.

Laura Codruta Kovesi, Romania’s anti-corruption chief, has said the measure to reduce punishments for graft “will render the anti-corruption fight irrelevant.” His agency also said the decriminalization measures would “encourage the abusive behavior of public workers, dishonesty, (and) immorality.”

The proposals, made by the government of Grindeanu, have also been criticized by Iohannis, civil rights groups, and a top panel of magistrates.

“Today is a day of mourning for the rule of law,” President Iohannis said in a statement on Tuesday, when the emergency law was adopted by the government. “The government has ignored the dreams of millions of Romanians who want to live in a country free of corruption.”

Romania’s top prosecutor has also criticized the plan, which critics say would benefit those allies of the ruling Social Democratic Party who have been convicted of corruption.

Several leading politicians are under investigation or on trial in abuse of power cases, including the leader of the ruling Social Democrats and Lower House Speaker Liviu Dragnea.

Romania is one of the poorest countries in the European Union and is said to be one of the most corrupt.

More than 2,000 officials have been charged with abuse of power in Romania over the past three years.

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