Euronews:ROMANIAN PROTESTS TARGET GOVERNMENT OVER CORRUPTION DRIVE

Thousands of Romanians have protested in Bucharest over government plans they fear could weaken an anti-corruption drive.

Draft decrees show an intent to pardon convictions of less than five years for several crimes. The government also wants to decriminalise abuse of power if it causes prejudice worth less than 200,000 lei (around 44,000 euros).

In Bucharest an estimated 3,000 people marched on a government building. Other smaller protests were reported in the western city of Cluj, as well as in Sibiu, Iasi and Craiova.

The demonstrators fear the measures will be used to enable politicians to escape convictions for corruption and get out of prison.

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has intervened, attending his first cabinet meeting since taking office in 2014. He warned against the plans which he described as “elephants in the room” that no-one was talking about.

Source: Euronews