2017–2019 Romanian protests
| 2017 Romanian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 18 January 2017–present | ||
| Location | |||
| Goals |
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| Methods | |||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Concessions |
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| Parties | |||
| Lead figures | |||
Protesters Liviu Dragnea (Leader of PSD) | |||
| Number | |||
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In January 2017, days after the PSD government led by Sorin Grindeanu was sworn in, significant protests took place throughout Romania against the government ordinance bills that were proposed by the Ministry of Justice regarding the pardoning of certain committed crimes, and the amendment of the Penal Code (especially regarding the abuse of power).[1]
Background
Although the government repeatedly denied that there were government ordinance bills regarding the pardoning and amnesty of committed crimes, there were strong rumours in the media that the government intended to pass such bills on 18 January 2017, mere days after the government was sworn-in.[2] Since the government did not publish the government meeting's agenda for that day, the President took it upon himself to attend and preside over the meeting, as envisioned by Art. 87 of the Constitution.[3] After a private meeting between the President, the Prime Minister and the justice minister, the government meeting was convened and presided by the President together with the Prime Minister.[4] Despite the Prime Minister's initial attempt to block the press' attendance and subsequent avoidance of the subject, the President announced to the media that there were in fact two bills regarding the pardoning of crimes and the amendment of the Penal Code.[5] He further announced that the Prime Minister assured him that these ordinances would not be passed without a transparent process, which included consulting with the relevant judicial institutions, as well as the public.[6]
Soon after the government meeting, the Ministry of Justice published the bills on its website and sent them to the relevant judicial institutions for consultations. The government's main stated reason for these bills was that prisons were overcrowded and in order to avoid paying a fine to the ECHR, such measures were needed to improve the conditions in prisons.[7]
The reaction was immediately negative. Upon analysing the provisions in the bills, the judicial institutions (including the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Superior Council of the Magistracy and the National Anticorruption Directorate) gradually but surely issued negative opinions on the proposed bills, generally stating that the laws would not achieve its stated goals and would rather undermine both the criminal justice system and the fight against corruption.[8]
Civil society and certain media outlets also took a similar stance against the bills, and claimed that the government's reasoning for these bills was just to mask the ruling parties' real intent, that is to pardon convicted politicians and cease ongoing cases against accused politicians.[9]
Protests
18 January
Considering the public's reaction to the events on Wednesday, impromptu protests in a few cities were organised on social media against the proposed bills.[10]
Around 5,000 people protested throughout Romania, with nearly 4,000 protesters in Bucharest marching from University Square to the government's seat in Victory Square.[11]
22 January
Following a significant mobilisation on social media after the initial protest, over 30,000 people protested on 22 January in Bucharest.[12] President Klaus Iohannis participated in the event in order to show his solidarity with the protesters, and announced to reporters that "a gang of politicians who have problems with the law want to change the legislation and weaken the state of law, and this is inadmissible … Romanians are rightly indignant."[13] Liviu Dragnea, the leader of PSD, reacted by accusing Iohannis of leading a Mineriad and labelling the protests as the beginning of a coup.[14] The leader of USR, Nicusor Dan, and interim leader of PNL, Raluca Turcan, were also present at the protest in support of the protesters.
Over 5,000 people also participated at the protests in Cluj-Napoca, and another 4,000 protesters in Timisoara (together with the city's mayor).[15] [16] There were also notable protests in Sibiu, Iasi, Brasov, Bacau and Constanta, as well as solidarity meeting in Copenhagen, Paris, London and Haugesund (in Norway).[17]
29 January
In what was described as "the largest protest after the Revolution",[18] tens of thousands of people took again to the streets in Romania's main cities. Over 50,000 people were attending the protest in Bucharest, while several tens of thousands of protesters were registered across the rest of the country. For instance, some 10,000 people took to the streets in Cluj-Napoca.[19] In total, over 90,000 people attended the protests, according to an estimate by Digi24 TV station.[18] In Bucharest, the crowd of protesters gathered in the center of the city, at University Square, and went on a peaceful march that included planned stops at the media watchdog CNA, the Ministry of Justice, the HQ of the Ombudsman and the Government.[20] Solidarity marches took place in several countries abroad, with the largest reported in Bruxelles, Paris, London, Rome and Copenhagen.[21][22]
Reactions
Klaus Iohannis
After the receiving the negative opinions by the judicial institutions regarding the government ordinance bills, Klaus Iohannis stated on 20 January that the presidency requested the government to withdraw the government proposals.[23]
Following the protests on 22 January, Klaus Iohannis announced that he would call for a referendum in order for the public opinion to have a say on these controversial issues.[24] He rebutted Dragnea's claims of a coup by declaring that PSD was attempting a coup d'grace against the rule of law in the country, and that Romanians had the right to vote on these issues, especially since they were not part of PSD's electoral programme upon which they won the 2016 parliamentary elections.[25]
Liviu Dragnea
Liviu Dragnea stated on 23 January that the President's attendance at the government meeting on 18 January was unconstitutional, and that he was attempting a coup against a democratically-elected government by participating (and "leading") the protest on 22 January.[26] Furthermore, he stated that the President has been insistent in blocking the implementation of PSD's electoral programme, and that the president's actions risked the possibility of his suspension by the Parliament.[27]
See also
References
- ^ Carmen Paun (22 January 2016). "Romanians protest government plan to commute sentences". Politico.
- ^ Dan Tapalaga (17 January 2016). "ALERTA SURSE Guvernul va adopta miercuri Ordonanta de Urgenta cu modificari importante in legislatia penala/ Vor fi gratiate o serie de pedepse si dezincriminate fapte (amnistie mascata)". HotNews.
- ^ News Editor (18 January 2016). "Miscare - surpriza a lui Iohannis: a venit pe nepregatite si a condus sedinta de Guvern in care urma sa se adopte gratierea si dezincriminarea unor infractiuni. Iohannis a anuntat ca Guvernul nu adopta azi ordonantele de urgenta". HotNews.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ News Editor (18 January 2016). "Miscare - surpriza a lui Iohannis: a venit pe nepregatite si a condus sedinta de Guvern in care urma sa se adopte gratierea si dezincriminarea unor infractiuni. Iohannis a anuntat ca Guvernul nu adopta azi ordonantele de urgenta". HotNews.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ News Editor (18 January 2016). "Moment inedit la sedinta de guvern: Klaus Iohannis nu a lasat presa sa iasa din sala pana nu a vorbit despre "cei doi elefanti de care nu vrea sa vorbeasca nimeni"". HotNews.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ News Editor (18 January 2016). "Miscare - surpriza a lui Iohannis: a venit pe nepregatite si a condus sedinta de Guvern in care urma sa se adopte gratierea si dezincriminarea unor infractiuni. Iohannis a anuntat ca Guvernul nu adopta azi ordonantele de urgenta". HotNews.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Associated Press (22 January 2016). "Thousands march against prison pardons in Romania". Guardian.
- ^ Digi24 (20 January 2016). "Guvernul Grindeanu, izolat. Cum a reacţionat până acum sistemul judiciar". Digi24.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Associated Press (22 January 2016). "Thousands march against prison pardons in Romania". Guardian.
- ^ News Editor (18 January 2016). "Mai multe proteste anuntate in Bucuresti si in tara: "NU legii gratierii"". HotNews.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Victor Cozmei, V.M. (18 January 2016). "Protest in Capitala impotriva amnistiei si gratierii. Mii de manifestanti au scandat "PSD, ciuma rosie", "DNA sa vina sa va ia" sau "Fara amnistie, va vrem la puscarie"". HotNews.
- ^ Victor Cozmei (22 January 2016). "Protest masiv anti-amnistie si gratiere in Bucuresti. Circa 30.000 de persoane au parcurs traseul Piata Universitatii - Guvern - PSD - ALDE. Protestul a fost pasnic, dar RTV si Antena 3 vorbesc despre "lovitura de stat"". HotNews.
- ^ Associated Press (22 January 2016). "Thousands march against prison pardons in Romania". Guardian.
- ^ Carmen Paun (22 January 2016). "Romanians protest government plan to commute sentences". Politico.
- ^ News Editor (22 January 2016). "Proteste de amploare impotriva amnistiei si gratierii si in numeroase orase din tara: Peste 5.000 de manifestanti la Cluj, 3.000 la Timisoara si Sibiu, 2.000 la Iasi - "Dragnea, sa ajungi imbracat in dungi"". HotNews.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Ștefan Both (22 January 2016). "UPDATE Aproximativ 5.000 de oameni au mărşăluit pe străzile Timişoarei: „Dragnea, nu uita, asta nu e ţara ta"". Adevărul.
- ^ News Editor (22 January 2016). "Proteste anti-amnistie si gratiere in mai multe capitale europene. Zeci de oameni au iesit in strada la Londra, Paris, Milano, Haugesund si Copenhaga". HotNews.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ a b Template:Ro icon "Cel mai mare protest de după Revoluție: peste 90.000 de oameni se opun grațierii". Digi24. 29 January 2017.
- ^ Template:Ro icon "Peste 10.000 de clujeni protestează împotriva OUG privind grațierea și modificarea codurilor penale". Ziua de Cluj. 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Massive protests in Romania over draft pardon bill, changes to Penal Code for second Sunday in a row". Business Review. 29 January 2017.
- ^ Template:Ro icon "Protestele românilor din străinătate". Digi24. 29 January 2017.
- ^ Template:Ro icon "Diaspora se REVOLTĂ: Sute de oameni au protestat la Bruxelles şi Paris (VIDEO)". B1.ro. 29 January 2017.
- ^ Reuters (20 January 2016). "Romanian president urges cabinet to scrap 'decriminalization' decree". Business Insider.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Reuters (20 January 2016). "Romania's President calls for referendum on justice laws". Business Insider.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Reuters (20 January 2016). "Romania's President calls for referendum on justice laws". Business Insider.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Alina Neagu (23 January 2016). "Liviu Dragnea despre Klaus Iohannis: A dat buzna in sedinta de Guvern in afara Constitutiei. Isi cere suspendarea. Vrea sa se victimizeze. Nu suntem interesati de asta, nu cred ca trebuie pentru Romania asa ceva". HotNews.
- ^ Alina Neagu (23 January 2016). "Liviu Dragnea despre Klaus Iohannis: A dat buzna in sedinta de Guvern in afara Constitutiei. Isi cere suspendarea. Vrea sa se victimizeze. Nu suntem interesati de asta, nu cred ca trebuie pentru Romania asa ceva". HotNews.