Amid protests, Romania scraps proposed corruption bill

Amid ongoing nationwide protests, the Romanian government has scrapped a bill that would have protected many politicians from being prosecuted for corruption.

The official repeal of the corruption decree was announced Sunday in a government statement after an emergency meeting of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu’s Cabinet.

The announcement and a nationally televised address by the Prime Minister a day earlier did little to stem anger over the now-abandoned corruption decree.

Massive rallies were held across the nation on Sunday, including at Victory Square in the capital of Bucharest.

At 9 p.m., protesters turned on their cell phone lights and pointed them at the sky, creating a sea of bright pinpoints. They sang the national anthem and later went silent for five minutes in memory of the heroes of the 1989 revolution that overthrew Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Sunday was the sixth straight day of protests.

On Sunday, February 5, Romanians turned out for a sixth straight day to demonstrate against a new law passed last week that would decriminalize corruption. Amid the protests Sunday night, the decree was officially repealed in a government statement following an emergency meeting of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu's Cabinet.

Protesters demonstrate in Bucharest on February 5. The new law, which passed on January 31, would have decriminalized corruption that caused damage worth less than about $48,000 (200,000 lei). Liviu Dragnea, president of the ruling Social Democrat Party, and other high-ranking politicians stood to benefit from the new law. Dragnea is under investigation over abuse of power allegations.

Protesters gather in front of a government building on Saturday, February 4. In a nationally televised address Saturday evening, Prime Minister Grindeanu told Romanians, "Romania cannot be torn apart."

A woman displays a Romanian flag during a protest in Bucharest on Friday, February 3.

Romanians demonstrate in Bucharest on Thursday, February 2, after the government weakened penalties for corruption. Thursday marked the third night of anti-government protests in the Romanian capital.

A young girl offers a flower to a police officer during an anti-government protest February 2 in Bucharest.

Protesters crowded in front of government headquarters in Bucharest on February 1, demonstrating against the passage of a law that would decriminalize corruption.

Riot police try to disperse demonstrators with tear gas February 1 in Bucharest. If it had gone into effect, the new law would have stopped ongoing investigations for corruption offenses and would prevent the launching of any subsequent probes.

Protesters dismantle an advertising display February 1 in front of government headquarters in Bucharest.

Riot police and protesters clash February 1 in Bucharest.

Police detain demonstrators February 1 in Bucharest.

Anti-riot police remove a protester February 1 in front of government headquarters in Bucharest.

People wave flags in opposition to the government's decree February 1 in Bucharest. The embassies of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States issued a joint statement expressing concern over the Romanian government's actions. The European Commission president also voiced worry.

A protester kneels near a police line on February 1 in Bucharest.

Police and demonstrators face off February 1 in Bucharest. Some people threw flares and other objects at security forces.

An officer uses pepper spray on demonstrators trying to gain access to a government building in Bucharest on Tuesday, January 31.

People throw snow at police protecting government headquarters on January 31 in Bucharest. Protesters also took to the streets in other cities across Romania.

Romanians protest new corruption law

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Grindeanu said Saturday there were some problems in communicating the decree to the public. He said the justice minister, who championed the law, had taken full responsibility.

“I don’t want to divide Romania,” Grindeanu said Saturday.

“Romania cannot be torn apart. Romania in this moment due to what’s going on seems to be divided, but it’s my last wish to get to anything like that,” he said.

Related article Romanians protest en masse against corruption decree

Concern over decree

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed concern over the new law this week.

“The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone,” he said. “We are following the latest developments in Romania with great concern.”

The embassies of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States issued a joint statement echoing Juncker’s sentiments.

Grindeanu has tasked the Justice Ministry with getting the ball rolling to create a replacement law “that will align with [the] Constitutional Court decisions, European Union directives” and existing Romanian law.

Sunday’s government statement also said the Cabinet agreed to make public extracts of transcripts of lawmakers’ debates in months leading up to the corruption law.

Crowds wave Romanian flags outside the government headquarters during a protest in Bucharest.

The law, which would have taken effect in about a week, decriminalized corruption that causes damage worth less than about $48,000, or 200,000 lei. The law would have freed some officials imprisoned for corruption, halted all investigations for pending corruption offenses and prevented further cases related to these offenses from being brought to justice.

The decree would have benefited politicians such as Liviu Dragnea, president of the Social Democrat Party, which recently took power. Dragnea is under investigation over abuse of power allegations and had also previously received a two-year suspended sentence for an elections offense.

Journalist Cosmin Stan in Romania and CNN’s Ralph Ellis, Kara Fox, Marilia Brocchetto and Matthew Rehbein contributed to this article.