In Pictures

Protests surge as Romania decriminalises corruption

Hundreds of thousands decry measures that decriminalise graft offences as judicial watchdog announces court challenge.

Romanian Protests 01 — Around 150,000 people protested on Wednesday, February 1 in front of government headquarters n Bucharest after the Romanian government passed an emergency decree to decriminalise official misconduct the day before. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Bucharest, Romania – Late on Tuesday, January 31, Romania’s government adopted an emergency decree that officially decriminalises corruption. The decision prompted large protests throughout the country, with many fearing a setback for the year-long fight against corruption in the Eastern European country, referring to the measures as an attack on the rule of law.

The emergency decree decriminalises criminal punishments for charges of abuse of power, conflict of interest and work negligence. Justice Minister Florin Iordache said the measure would decriminalise abuse of power cases in which the financial damage is valued at less than 200,000 lei ($47,800).

Social unrest began nearly two weeks before Tuesday’s decree, when the local press drew attention to the government’s intention to pass two emergency laws: one on prison pardons and the other on changes to the penal code. Since then, people have taken to the streets in several cities around Romania, demanding a halt to both measures and, in the end, demanding the resignation of the social democrat government.

These are the largest protests Romania has seen since the fall of communism 27 years ago.

The government’s move drew criticism from President Klaus Iohannis, who called the measure’s adoption “a day of mourning for the rule of law … which has received a grave blow from the enemies of justice”.

It also drew criticism from chief judges and prosecutors, the anti-corruption agency and numerous civil society organisations. International reactions to the emergency laws have not been favourable, either. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said in a joint statement that they were following the latest developments in Romania “with great concern” and that the fight against corruption needed to be advanced in Romania, not undone.

In an unprecedented move, six strategic allies of Romania – the US, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium – issued a joint statement calling for a repeal of the decree and underlining the importance of the fight against corruption.

On Wednesday, February 1, crowds reached a staggering 150,000 protesters in Bucharest alone. It was the first time that violence occurred since the protests began, after hooligans allegedly infiltrated the demonstration and threw firecrackers and bottles at police. Twenty people were arrested, five were were taken to hospitals and treated for injuries.

Romanian Protests 03 - DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — On late Tuesday, January 31, Romania’s government passed the emergency decree to decriminalise official misconduct. People took again to the streets in spontaneous protests across the country. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 04 - DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — Riot police in front of Victoria Palace in Bucharest as 150,000 people protested on Wednesday, February 1. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 05 - DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — The emergency decree passed by the government reduces the punishment for official misconduct, from two to seven years in jail, to six months to three years in jail or a fine. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 06 - DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — People took to the streets around Romania demanding an end to these measures and, in the end, demanding the resignation of the social-democrat government. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 08 - DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — Children singing the national anthem as families march on the streets of Bucharest on January 29. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 010- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — On Wednesday, February 1, the protests turned violent. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 018- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — According to first reports, 20 people were arrested, five had to be treated for injuries and were taken to hospitals. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 011- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — Police protected Victoria Palace as thousands protested in Bucharest against the government approval of changes to criminal law in a late-evening session. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 012- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans, calling the ruling Social Democratic Party 'the red plague'. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 013- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — 'You did it at night, like thieves,' protesters chanted in front of the Government’s building, referring to the late-hour decree. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 017- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — The government also introduced a new provision related to the abuse of power, which says it doesn’t apply to the issuance, approval or adoption of normative acts, therefore exonerating all public officials from any criminal responsibility for issuing laws, ordinances or even local administrative decisions. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 019- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — Fires were set on the streets as protests against the government’s two emergency ordinances turned violent for the first time. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 020- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — Police pushed protesters out of Victory Square after some elements in the crowd turned violent despite repeated calls for nonviolence from other demonstrators. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]

Romanian Protests 021- DO NOT USE - RESTRICTED — In an unprecedented move, the US, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium issued a joint statement calling for the withdrawal of the decree, underlining the importance of the fight against corruption. [Ioana Moldovan/Al Jazeera]