Anti-government protests

Thousands of Romanians have taken to the streets to demand an independent justice system

Corina Cristea, 04.03.2019, 13:01

Thousands of people again took to the streets in Romania on Sunday evening to show their solidarity with the magistrates who say Emergency Order no. 7 recently adopted by the government hinders their activity. In Bucharest and other cities around the country such as Sibiu, Cluj, Constanta, Iasi, Timisoara and Galati, the protesters demanded the resignation of the justice minister Tudorel Toader, the repeal of the order and the dismantling of the special department for investigating magistrates. A march was held in Bucharest and the actors of the National Theatre staged a protest on the stairs of the theatre.

The government said it had no intention to give up the order that has sparked massive protests among magistrates. Last week, Tudorel Toader said, however, that he drafted an emergency order that would repeal a number of provisions contained in the previous order. The document was presented to prime minister Viorica Dancila and submitted to the Superior Council of Magistrates. According to the president of this body, Livia Savonea, the provisions in questions refer to re-assignments and the prerequisite of good reputation.

The street protests come as magistrates from prosecutors offices and courts around the country voiced their dissatisfaction, including by stopping working. The anti-governmental protests also targeted another emergency order, known as no. 114, one that was mentioned by the European Commission in its six-month country report as a risk factor threatening the normal running of the financial sector.

The Social Democratic Party, the main force in the ruling coalition, has admitted that changes can be made to this order as long as the main objectives are retained, namely for the population and businesses to benefit from loans at lower interest rates.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the finance ministry are having talks with those of the Romanian Association of Banks to analyse the need for changes to this order in respect of a number of fiscal measures. The representatives of the Association of Building Entrepreneurs have submitted amendments to the order ahead of its being discussed by the Chamber of Deputies. They say the order contains some good provisions for the constructions sector, but also measures that should be modified. In turn, representatives of local gas companies have warned that implementing the order would have a negative impact on both investors in the sector and the state budget.

(translated by: Cristina Mateescu)