BUCHAREST (Reuters) - More than 250,000 Romanians demonstrated on Wednesday against a government decree decriminalizing some graft offences, seen as the biggest retreat on reforms since the country joined the European Union in 2007.

Romania’s top judicial watchdog, the Superior Magistrates’ Council (CSM), earlier in the day filed a constitutional court challenge to the decree unveiled by the new Social Democrat government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu.

The number of protesters rose to a new high in the evening, reaching 130,000 to 150,000 outside the cabinet building in Bucharest.

Another 100,000 to 150,000 were estimated by riot police to have joined similar rallies in 55 other towns and cities.

The rally in the capital subsided peacefully by 2200 GMT, but after people left the square, a group of about 300 soccer ultras came in and threw fireworks and stones at riot police. The police dispersed them with tear gas. Two policemen and two protesters were slightly hurt by stones, the emergency service said.

The decree that triggered the nationwide protests was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday evening.

“Repeal it, then leave,” protesters shouted. “Thieves, thieves.” Many waved Romanian national flags.

“Our chances are small but it is important to fight,” said Gabriela Constantin, a 36-year-old architect.

If enforced, as planned, within 10 days, the decree would, among other things, decriminalize abuse-of-power offences in which the sums involved are less than 200,000 lei ($48,000).

That would put an end to the current trial of Social Democrat party leader Liviu Dragnea, accused of using his political influence to secure state salaries for two people working at his party headquarters between 2006 and 2013.

Dozens of other political figures from all parties stand to benefit from the decree.

Romanian police stand guard during a demonstration in Bucharest, Romania, February 1, 2017. Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via REUTERS

“I don’t understand what the protesters are upset about,” Dragnea told reporters on Tuesday.

Two opposition parties, the centrist Liberals and the Save Romania Union USR, filed a no-confidence motion on Wednesday against the government which has little chance of succeeding.

As parliament opened for its first regular session of the year, USR lawmakers paraded banners reading “Shame” and other opposition deputies shouted “Resignation” or “Thieves”.

The Romanian leu EURRON=D2 fell as much as 1.4 percent against the euro to 4.5540, marking a seven-month low, while longer-term yields rose 14 basis points.

ENTRENCHED CORRUPTION

Romania’s Social Democrats won back power in a December 2016 election, one year after protesters drove them from office in an outpouring of anger over a deadly fire at a nightclub that many blamed on corruption and impunity.

Anti-corruption prosecutors are currently investigating over 2,000 abuse-of-power cases.

President Klaus Iohannis took part in an emergency meeting of the CSM, telling reporters afterwards:

“The problem is that one cannot act the way the government did in a country with the rule of law, which Romania is and wants to remain.”

“The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone,” European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and his deputy said in a statement. “We are following the latest developments in Romania with great concern.”

Six western countries including Germany and the United States issued a joint statement warning that the government’s move would undermine Romania’s international reputation and position in the EU and NATO.

Slideshow (9 Images)

The decree would apply to ongoing investigations and trials as well as new cases. Criminal negligence would no longer be an offence, and the definition of conflict of interest would be narrowed.

The government on Tuesday also approved a draft bill that would grant prison pardons. It says it would bring the criminal code in line with recent constitutional court rulings and ease prison overcrowding, claims disputed by many senior judicial figures.</s>BUCHAREST: Romania's new leftist government late on Tuesday decriminalised a number of graft offences including some abuse-of-power cases in the ex-communist state's biggest retreat on anti-corruption reforms since it joined the European Union a decade ago.

More than 10,000 people gathered outside government headquarters in the capital, Bucharest, in freezing temperatures and thousands more in cities across Romania shortly after the emergency decree was announced.

Protesters in Bucharest shouted: "Thieves!" and "Traitors!" and called for the government to resign.

Romania's leftists swept into power in December, promising higher wages and pensions in a parliamentary election that underscored a deepening divide between older rural voters, tired of austerity, and younger city-dwellers.

Their plans to ease anti-corruption rules were unveiled earlier this month, triggering the largest street protests since the 1989 fall of communism.

The leftists said the changes were needed to get the criminal code in line with recent constitutional court rulings.

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu has drawn criticism from President Klaus Iohannis, chief judges and prosecutors, civil rights groups, diplomats and the European Commission, which has Romania's justice system under special monitoring.

"Today is a day of mourning for the rule of law," Iohannis said in a statement. "The government has ignored the dreams of millions of Romanians who want to live in a country free of corruption."

Romania is one of Europe's most corrupt states, with graft rife in state administration and many areas of public life. Efforts to stamp out abuse have accelerated over the past four years.

Prosecutors have indicted nearly 2,000 people in cases involving abuse of power that have caused damages totalling up to 1 billion euros in the past three years.

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.

The emergency decree - which takes effect immediately - would decriminalise some offences, including abuse of power causing financial damage of less than 200,000 lei (£38,154).

It also approved a draft bill granting prison pardons for several offences that now needs parliament's approval.

"This is a strong hit against criminal justice in Romania, and the impact will be major ... on all citizens," anti-corruption legal expert Laura Stefan said about Tuesday's announcement.</s>Romania's top judicial watchdog announced a court challenge on Wednesday to a government decree decriminalising some graft offences in what critics say is the biggest retreat on reforms since the country joined the European Union a decade ago. People take part in a demonstration to protest against government plans to reform some criminal laws through emergency decree, in front of the government headquarters Victoria Palace in Bucharest, Romania, January 29, 2017.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Channelnewsasia.com.</s>Romania's anti-graft prosecutors (DNA) arrested central bank deputy governor Bogdan Olteanu on Friday in a corruption investigation, seeking to detain him for 30 days for a criminal inquiry.

"He is now at our prosecuting headquarters, in detention," one DNA prosecuting official told Reuters by telephone. "An inquiry is underway, prosecutors want him arrested for 30 days." (Reporting by Radu Marinas; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)</s>BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s government has decriminalized official misconduct, defying mass protests and warnings from prosecutors and the president that the move will reverse the country’s anti-corruption fight.

At 3 a.m. Wednesday, an emergency ordinance decriminalizing abuse in office was published in the official government monitor, and will soon automatically become a law.

The development alarmed critics with its content, the hour and the speed with which the center-left government, less than one month in office, passed a proposal that will benefit government allies and Romanian officials facing corruption charges.

“It shows that the government is willing to use backdoor methods with no scrutiny or checks and balances in order to protect and promote itself,” said Dan Brett, an associate professor at the Open University who comments on Romania.</s>Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Romania to protest against an emergency ordinance passed on Tuesday night that decriminalises some offences, including official misconduct in cases where the financial damage is less than 200,000 lei (£38,000).

Critics of the ordinance, introduced by a government that won parliamentary elections in December, say it could reverse an anti-corruption fight in Romania that has drawn widespread praise internationally. Additional laws could be issued in the coming days, further eroding ministers’ accountability, according to the government’s opponents.



In a post on Facebook, the Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, who has opposed the emergency ordinance and who last month joined protesters on the streets, wrote: “Today is a day of mourning for the rule of law.” 



News of the ordinance passing broke at about 10pm local time, and by midnight local media estimated that 12,000 people were demonstrating in Bucharest and 10,000 in other cities across the country, despite freezing temperatures. There were shouts of “Thieves” and “You won’t get away with it.”

“I don’t normally protest but I just felt such a sense of rage,” said Alexandra Boeriu, a 35-year-old NGO worker who protested outside the main government building in Bucharest. “I was young, but I did live through communism and I know what this is. I don’t want this for my kids. There are a lot of people protesting who want to have a future in this country. It feels like someone has died.”

“You can’t just publish laws in the night and say shut up, we won the election, you have no rights,” said Dragos Stanca, 42, a digital media entrepreneur who was also demonstrating. “It’s a very dangerous precedent. If this is the kind of procedure they do, we wonder what’s next. It looks like anything is possible.”

Protests have been held for the past two Sundays over the government’s plans, which would also grant amnesty to those sentenced to jail terms shorter than five years in relation to certain crimes and halve prison terms for those with young children, pregnant women, or those over 60.

The EU has weighed in on the controversy, warning the government not to backtrack on anti-graft measures. “The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone,” European commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and his deputy, Frans Timmermans, said in a joint statement. “We are following the latest developments in Romania with great concern.”

Government officials have suggested the laws were aimed at easing overcrowded conditions in prisons, but few observers are convinced, and many believe the real purpose is to help convicted politicians, or those who are now under investigation, escape justice.



Romania, an enthusiastic EU member for a decade and a major recipient of EU funds, remains one of Europe’s most corrupt countries: a report by the IPP thinktank released late last year found that of the 588 MPs elected in previous elections in 2012, 89 – or 15% – were either under investigation for graft, had already been convicted, or chose to step down for other positions.

Hundreds of officials have been imprisoned in recent years, and more than 2,000 files are under investigation in relation to abuse of office, according to prosecutors.

“With this government I feel insecure and the new law which favours corruption is a huge offence and an attack on us, the regular people,” said Alberto Grosescu, a 29-year-old photographer who took to the streets on Tuesday night immediately after the ordinance was announced.

Grosescu predicts that many more people will come out to protest. “I’m pretty sure that tonight there is going to be over 100,000 people in Bucharest, maybe over 200,000 across the whole country,” he said.

Those protesting hope that their actions could still lead to change.



“They have to, I don’t think politicians can ignore so many people, but we have to stand up and continue to stand up,” said Boeriu.

Thousands of people gathered outside the main government building in Bucharest on Wednesday morning. It is thought that protests later in the day could be the biggest since the fall of communism in 1989.</s>Romania’s top judicial watchdog announced a court challenge on Wednesday to a government decree decriminalising some graft offences in what critics say is the biggest retreat on reforms since the country joined the European Union a decade ago.

The decree, unveiled by the Social Democrat-led government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu after it took power earlier this month, has drawn sharp criticism and triggered the biggest street protests since the fall of communism in Romania in 1989.

More than 10,000 people took to the cold streets outside government headquarters in the capital, Bucharest, late on Tuesday after the government pushed through the move in a hastily-assembled cabinet session.

Protesters gathered again on Wednesday, shouting “Rats!” Numbers were expected to grow in the evening.

If enforced, the decree would, among other things, decriminalise abuse-of-power offences in which the sums involved were less than 200,000 lei ($48,000).

That would put an end to an ongoing trial of Social Democrat party leader Liviu Dragnea, accused of using his political influence to secure state salaries for two people working at his party headquarters between 2006 and 2013. Dozens of lawmakers and mayors across all parties stand to benefit from the decree.

“I don’t understand what protesters are upset about,” Dragnea told reporters on Tuesday.

Two opposition parties, the opposition Liberals (PNL) and the Save Romania Union (USR), announced they would file a no-confidence motion on Wednesday against the government, which enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament.

As parliament opened for its first regular session of the year, USR lawmakers paraded banners that read “Shame” while other opposition deputies shouted “Resignation” and “Thieves”.

The Romanian leu fell 1.4 percent against the euro to 4.5540, marking a seven-month low, while longer-term yields rose 14 basis points.

Romania’s Social Democrats won back power in a December 2016 election a year after protesters drove them from office in an outpouring of anger over a deadly fire at a nightclub that lacked emergency exits and safety permits.

Many saw the fire as emblematic of widespread corruption and impunity, but after 12 months of technocrat government, the Social Democrats returned on a promise to hike wages and pensions and cut taxes.

Anti-corruption prosecutors are currently investigating over 2,000 abuse-of-power cases.

President Klaus Iohannis took part in an emergency meeting of Romania’s top magistrates’ body, the Superior Magistrates’ Council (CSM), telling reporters afterwards:

“The problem is that one cannot act the way the government did in a country with the rule of law, which Romania is and wants to remain.”

CSM president Mariana Ghena said she would file a challenge to the decree with the constitutional court by the end of the day.

The European Commission has Romania’s justice system under special monitoring.

“The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone,” Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and his deputy, Frans Timmermans, said in a joint statement. “We are following the latest developments in Romania with great concern.”

The decree would apply to ongoing investigations and trials as well as new cases and come into effect within 10 days. Criminal negligence would no longer be an offence and the definition of conflict of interest would be narrowed.

The government on Tuesday also approved a draft bill granting prison pardons that requires parliamentary approval.

“These provisions aim to exonerate all top and medium ranking officials – parliament clerks, government members, all those able to approve laws, decrees, local decisions,” chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi told television station DIGI24.</s>BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s government decriminalized official misconduct overnight Wednesday, defying mass protests and warnings from prosecutors and the president that the move will reverse the country’s fight against corruption.

An emergency ordinance decriminalizing abuse in office was published at 3 a.m. in the official government monitor and will soon automatically become law.

The speed with which the center-left government approved the proposal and the hour of its action alarmed critics. The coalition government has been in office for less than a month and the ordinance benefits its allies and Romanian officials facing corruption charges.

“It shows that the government is willing to use backdoor methods with no scrutiny or checks and balances in order to protect and promote itself,” said Dan Brett, an associate professor at the Open University.

President Klaus Iohannis, who has limited powers and doesn’t oversee the government, called the measure’s adoption “a day of mourning for the rule of law.”

In recent years, Romania has been touted as a regional leader for targeting the rich and the powerful in a crackdown on corruption. But the drive has proved unpopular with politicians.

Leaders of the center-left Social Democratic Party and the junior Alliance of Democratic Liberals, which form the current coalition government, both face corruption charges that bar them from serving as ministers.

Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea was unable to become prime minister because in April 2016 he received a two-year suspended jail sentence for vote rigging. On Tuesday, he went on trial for abuse of power while he was president of the Teleorman local council from 2006 to 2012. He denies wrongdoing.

Justice Minister Florin Iordache said the emergency ordinance will decriminalize cases of official misconduct in which the damages are valued at less than 200,000 lei ($47,800).

The government on Tuesday evening also sent to Parliament a proposal that will pardon thousands of prisoners. It says the measure, which will free about 3,000 convicts, will help reduce overcrowding in prisons.

Prisoners interviewed by The Associated Press on Tuesday scoffed at the idea, saying the changes are likely to benefit senior officials rather than ordinary convicts.

Protests erupted in cities around the country after the emergency pardon plan was made public last month. The chief anti-corruption prosecutor, Laura Codruta Kovesi, said it “will render the anti-corruption fight irrelevant.”

The National Anticorruption Directorate has prosecuted 1,170 cases of abuse in office during the past three years with damages worth euros 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion.), just under one-third of all of its cases, she said.

Both the EU and Germany criticized the Romanian government’s move.

European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic told reporters that the bloc is “following the latest developments in Romania with growing concern.”

“The fight against corruption needs to be advanced and not undone,” Sefcovic said.

German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said Berlin also is paying attention.

“With these decisions the Romanian government has obviously ignored massive concerns on the part of the president, the judiciary and large parts of the population,” he said.

Brett said the Social Democratic Party moved fast because “they consider that the world’s attention is on the U.S. at the moment and so international condemnation and pressure will not be forthcoming.”

“As we’ve seen in Poland and Hungary, the slide into authoritarianism isn’t overnight, but slowly one law at a time,” Brett said.</s>BUCHAREST: Romania's government will probably amend proposed decrees that critics say would weaken a drive against corruption, the country's justice minister said on Monday, although he declined to say exactly what would be changed.

The government had planned to issue emergency decrees, which unlike bills passed by parliament would take effect immediately, to reduce the sentences for some offences and grant pardons to those convicted of others .

Roughly 100,000 Romanians rallied in the capital, Bucharest, and in other cities on Sunday to protest the plans, which had raised concern they will weaken a crackdown on corruption.

On Monday, Justice Minister Florin Iordache held public consultations on the decree drafts. Hundreds of people showed up, including civil rights groups, parents of convicted prisoners and lawyers with convictions for corruption. Iordache said he will analyse their suggestions.

"The initial versions will certainly be amended," Iordache told reporters. "We will take the observations made today into account. I don't want to say what we will eliminate or whether we will and how the (drafts) will look."

He said he would announce a decision after consulting with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu.

President Klaus Iohannis has repeatedly urged the cabinet to withdraw the decrees, which he said threatened the rule of law. He also said he would call a referendum on the plans.

"A solid democracy is one in which the majority does not abuse their rights just because they hold power temporarily," Iohannis said on his Facebook page on Monday.

The prosecutor general, the top magistrates' council, chief anti-corruption prosecutor and anti-organised crime unit chief, the supreme court, civil rights groups and diplomats have all criticised the decrees.

As originally proposed, one decree would decriminalise some offences, including abuse of power causing financial damage of less than 200,000 lei (US$47,500). The leader of the ruling Social Democrats and lower house speaker, Liviu Dragnea, is currently on trial for inciting a third party to commit abuse of power.

Another decree would pardon convictions for several crimes if they carry sentences of less than five years, and would cut sentences by half for all prisoners aged over 60, having a terminal illness or children to support, and for pregnant women.

The prime minister and justice minister have said the decrees were needed to get the criminal code in line with recent constitutional court rulings and ease the burden of Romania's overcrowded prisons.</s>BUCHAREST, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Romania's top judicial watchdog announced a court challenge on Wednesday against a government decree decriminalising a number of graft offences in what critics say is the biggest retreat on reforms since the country joined the European Union a decade ago.

The decree, unveiled by the Social Democrat-led government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu after it took power earlier this month, has drawn sharp criticism and triggered the biggest street protests since the fall of communism in Romania in 1989.

More than 10,000 people took to the cold streets outside government headquarters in the capital, Bucharest, late on Tuesday after the government pushed through the move in a hastily-assembled cabinet session.

Around 2,000 more turned out on Wednesday morning, shouting "Rats" and carrying banners that read "The morning shift". A larger protest was announced for later in the day.

If enforced, the decree would, among other things, decriminalise abuse-of-power offences in which the sums involved were less than 200,000 lei ($48,000).

That would put an end to an ongoing trial of Social Democrat party leader Liviu Dragnea, who is accused of using his political influence to secure state salaries for two people working at his party headquarters between 2006 and 2013. Dozens of lawmakers and mayors across all parties stand to benefit from the decree.

"I don't understand what protesters are upset about," Dragnea told reporters on Tuesday.

President Klaus Iohannis took part in an emergency meeting of Romania's top magistrates' body, the Superior Magistrates' Council (CSM), telling reporters afterwards:

"The problem is that one cannot act the way the government did in a country with the rule of law, which Romania is and wants to remain."

CSM president Mariana Ghena said she would file a challenge with the constitutional court by the end of the day.

The European Commission, which has Romania's justice system under special monitoring, warned against backtracking.

"The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone," Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker, and his deputy, Frans Timmermans, said in a joint statement. "We are following the latest developments in Romania with great concern."

The Romanian leu was down 0.8 percent on the day at 4.5240 to the euro at 1000 GMT and longer-term yields rose 14 basis points.

Romania's Social Democrats won back power in a December 2016 election a year after protesters drove them from office in an outpouring of anger over a deadly fire at a nightclub that lacked emergency exits and safety permits.

Many saw the fire as emblematic of widespread corruption and impunity, but after 12 months of technocrat government, the Social Democrats returned on a promise to hike wages and pensions and cut taxes.

Anti-corruption prosecutors are currently investigating over 2,000 abuse of power cases. They indicted over 1,000 over the last 3 years with damages worth up to 1 billion euros.

The decree would apply to ongoing investigations and trials as well as new cases and it specifies it will come into effect within ten days. Criminal negligence is also no longer an offense and the definition of conflict of interest has narrowed.

The government on Tuesday also approved a draft bill granting prison pardons that requires parliamentary approval.

"These provisions aim to exonerate all top and medium ranking officials - parliament clerks, government members, all those able to approve laws, decrees, local decisions," chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi told television station DIGI24.

"Since last night, every day has become a major risk for the judicial system." (Editing by Matt Robinson)
Despite massive protests in recent days, Romania's government adopts an emergency ordinance to decriminalize some graft offences.