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Romania’s anti-corruption protests wither away

Romanians grow tired after one and a half years of protesting against corruption with no concrete results.

Romanian people protest against corruption in Bucharest, on the day of the revocation of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the head of the DNA. After one and a half years of protesting without results, Romanians
People gather to protest against corruption in Bucharest, on the day of the dismissal of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the head of the anti-corruption agency, DNA. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
By Alexandra Radu
Published On 12 Jul 2018

The last three weeks have seen the Romanian justice system being shaken by a series of events that displayed how politicised the implementation of the law in the EU nation has become.

On Monday, President Klaus Iohannis signed a decree to sack the head of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruta Kovesi.

Kovesi was accused of “acting beyond her responsibilities” and not “respecting the authority of the parliament and damaging Romania’s image at an international level”.

The DNA, led by Kovesi, has been fighting corruption at high-level political positions since 2013. It has prosecuted hundreds of public figures, earning popular support and praise from the European Commission.

While many see her as a crusader against corruption, others, including politicians from the ruling party, have accused Kovesi’s actions as being politically motivated.

Kovesi’s dismissal came in the wake of another controversial incident on July 5, when the lower house of the parliament hastily approved changes to the criminal code that partially decriminalised abuse of office.

The latest developments can affect ongoing high-profile cases of corruption, including an abuse of office case against Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the ruling PSD and the speaker of the lower house. Dragnea was sentenced by the court to 3.5 years in prison on June 21, but the verdict is likely to be appealed.

The controversial decisions regarding the justice system in one of the most corrupt EU nation have led to frequent protests since January 2017, when the changes in the criminal code were first proposed in parliament.

Since then, the weakening of the anti-corruption fight has thrown the population into a general depression, with fewer people choosing to continue expressing their disagreement in the street.

2. “People have families and jobs. It is hard and tiring to protest as frequently as it would be necessary over such a long period of time”, said Valentina, a protester from Bucharest. “I have been at
'People have families and jobs. It is hard and tiring to protest frequently over such a long period of time,' says Valentina, a protester from Bucharest. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
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3. Gendarmes place fences ahead of a protest in the Victory Square in Bucharest, the main place where protests occur, where the headquarters of the Romanian Government is located.
Security forces place fences ahead of a protest in the Victory Square in Bucharest, near the Romanian government headquarters. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
5. A protester holds a photo of Laura Codruta Kovesi, with the hashtag “resist”. Kovesi, the former chief prosecutor of the DNA, was revoked on Monday by President Klaus Iohannis following a decision
A protester holds flags and a photo of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the sacked head of the DNA, with the hashtag '#resist'. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
6. A protester is confronted by a gendarme during an anti corruption rally in Bucharest.
A demonstrator is confronted by a members of the security forces during an anti-corruption rally in Bucharest. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
7. “I think that protest is still one of the most powerful weapons we have, because the party in power has taken over the Romanian politics and the opposition is too weak to work together and act like
'Protests are still one of the most powerful weapons we have, as the ruling party has taken over politics and the opposition is too weak,' says Andi Carlan from Rezistenta TV. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
8. Protesters cover their faces as members of the Romanian Gendarmerie spray tear gas during an anti corruption process in the center of Bucharest on July 5th, the day when the bill bringing changes t
Protesters cover their faces as members of the Romanian security forces throw tear gas on anti-corruption protesters in Bucharest. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
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9. “The protester movement has devolved over the time. Unfortunately, the governing coalition''s tactic, which is the one of small steps, wore down the people. Even though, there is still discontent br
'The protest movement has devolved over the time. Unfortunately, the governing coalition's tactic, which is the one of small steps, wore down the people. Even though, there is still discontent brewing in a large part of the society, probably waiting for a decisive moment,' said Vlad, a protester from Bucharest. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
10. “It started with protests that determined the withdrawal of the OUG 13, but now the protests became something irrelevant in the middle of the FIFA World Cup. Not even the people who started them b
'The protests have become something irrelevant in the middle of the FIFA World Cup. Not even the people who started them believe in their efficiency anymore' says Alexandru. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
13. “People are tired of not having their voice heard by the Romanian politicians both from government and opposition side. I choose not to attend protests because I don''t see a viable solution from t
'People are tired of not having their voice heard by the Romanian politicians both from government and opposition side,' says Eliodora from Bucharest. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
14. A protester holds up a smartphone lantern with the message “Everybody for justice” during an anti corruption protest in Bucharest.
'I feel sincerity from neither the opposition nor the government. I feel like a spectator looking at the political scene unclear from both sides' said Eliodora from Bucharest. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera]
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