Romania Repealing Decree Decriminalizing Some Corruption
By VOA News February 05, 2017
Romania says it is repealing a decree which decriminalized some official misconduct after witnessing the largest protests in the capital Bucharest since 1989.
The country's prime minister announced Saturday night that he would be holding a meeting to officially repeal the order.
"Tomorrow (Sunday) we will hold a government (cabinet) meeting to repeal this decree," Sorin Grindeanu said in a televised statement made Saturday evening. "I do not want to divide Romania. It can't be divided in two."
The decision is in response to the largest protests the country has seen since the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, with more than 140,000 people demonstrating since the decree was announced on Wednesday. The prime minister had said earlier in the week he would not repeal the order.
But protests continued on Sunday, with thousands taking to the streets for the fifth day in a row to demand authorities to be vigilant in rooting out corruption.
One of the strongest defenders of the decree, ruling Social Democrat party leader Liviu Dragnea, faces a corruption charge himself. But he assured protesters that the decree would not "free corrupt people".
The order decriminalized official misconduct if the funds involved are less than $47,800. Critics have voiced concerns that it would allow corrupt politicians to go unpunished and encourage future graft among officials.
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