Romania : Ongoing protests and a vote of no confidence

By Euronews

Published on 08/02/2017 - 05:18

Though the numbers are reportedly dwindling, demonstrations in Romania continue as the government awaits a vote of no confidence

Despite the repeal of the Romanian Government’s controversial draft-legislation that would have effectively legalised certain types of corruption, protesters are still taking to the streets.

The numbers are said to have dropped considerably down from around 250,000 on Sunday; 25,000 on Monday to 5000 on Tuesday.

Anticorrupsion Protest Continue in Romania https://t.co/RvAo99UeGV via YouTube</a></p>— Entuziasm123 (Entuziasm123) February 7, 2017

Those remaining say they are determined to see the government dissolved.

One demonstrator told reporters: “We are keeping our positions and we want our government to resign because we cannot trust this government because they are crouching in the middle of the night, passing laws for corrupt politicians.”

Shows of solidarity inspire protest-riven Romania pic.twitter.com/Gkc23E4e9L
— Eleutherius Bateson (@ehkafxe) February 7, 2017

The country’s president, Klaus Iohannis, who is not part of the ruling party, mirrored the protester’s sentiments laying into the Social Democrat (PSD)-led government and sparking a walk-out in parliament.

#Romania'n Social Democrat #MPs walk out on president in protest https://t.co/OCZrcd75Hz #romaniaprotests
— Daria Pirvu (@daria_pirvu) February 7, 2017

Iohannis announced: “The prosperity of the Romanian people was not your first priority. Your first concern was to look after the penal files, and that’s why Romanians are indignant and revolted.”

He added: “You have been saying in public that I would like to overthrow the legitimate government. That’s false. You won, now you govern and legislate, but not at any price…The resignation of a single minister is too little and early elections would at this stage be too much. This is the available room for manoeuvre.”

With a vote of no confidence due to be held on Wednesday 8th February, anonymous party sources told Reuters News agency they expect the decree’s architect, Justice Minister – Florin Iordache – to resign.