Romanian's Government approves Penal Code amendments despite mass protests

Romanian’s Government approves Penal Code amendments despite mass protests

Newsroom 31/01/2017 | 23:42

The Grindeanu government has submitted the controversial pardon law to the Parliament for approval and passed the amendments to the Penal Code that many believe will dent Romania’s anti-corruption fight.

The move came as a surprise, as press sources had indicated that the executive was planning to adopt the measures on Wednesday.

In the past two weeks, every Sunday protesters gathered in Bucharest and other major cities to rally against the proposed measures. Wednesday morning and Sunday, February 1, two more protests were scheduled.

The adoption of the measures was criticised by opposition politicians as well as by President Klaus Iohannis, who said “It is a day of mourning for the rule of law, which has received a strong blow from the enemies of justice.”

Georgeta Gheorghe