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. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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”. 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. 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. “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.
Despite massive protests in recent days, Romania's government adopts an emergency ordinance to decriminalize some graft offences.