Romanian government to repeal decree decriminalizing official misconduct

Romania's Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced on the 4 February 2017 that the government would withdraw the corruption decree that had sparked the country's biggest protests since the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.

Thousands of people had taken to the streets of Romania on the 4 February 2017 for the fifth day in a row in protest of a decree that decriminalised official misconduct.

The emergency decree was repealed on the 5 February 2016 but protests continued calling on the newly elected government under Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu to resign.

Commentary articles on the protests and their significance for Romania can be found here.

ESO: Background information: Thousands rally in Romania against plan to pardon prisoners http://www.europeansources.info/record/thousands-rally-in-romania-against-plan-to-pardon-prisoners/

ESO: Background information: Commission outlines conditions for ending cooperation and verification mechanism for Romania on judicial reform and corruption http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-outlines-conditions-for-ending-cooperation-and-verification-mechanism-for-romania-on-judicial-reform-and-corruption/

ESO: Background information: Romania’s protests: A response to a three-pronged assault on anti-corruption measures http://www.europeansources.info/record/romanias-protests-a-response-to-a-three-pronged-assault-on-anti-corruption-measures/

Wikipedia: National Anticorruption Directorate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anticorruption_Directorate

BBC News, 04.02.17: Romania to withdraw corruption decree after mass protests http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38868736

The Guardian, 05.02.17: [Opinion]: With this victory Romania’s protesters have truly proved their mettle https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/05/romania-victory-protesters-corruption-creativity-solidarity

Deutsche Welle, 05.02.17: Socialists repeal corruption decree in Romania http://dw.com/p/2X0iU

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2017: Bucharest approves decrees on corruption / Protests against corruption in Romania continue http://www.eurotopics.net/en/173671/bucharest-approves-decrees-on-corruption

The Guardian, 06.02.17: Romania protests continue despite repeal of corruption decree https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/05/romanian-government-scraps-corruption-decree-as-opposition-continues

EurActiv, 06.02.17: Romania scraps decree decriminalising graft as mass protests persist http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/romania-scraps-decree-decriminalising-graft-as-mass-protests-persist/

EUObserver, 06.02.17: Romanian protests continue despite government climbdown https://euobserver.com/news/136795

Politico, 06.02.17: Romania repeals corruption decree after protests http://www.politico.eu/article/romania-to-repeal-corruption-decree-after-protests/

EurActiv, 08.02.17: Romanian president berates government, rules out early elections http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/romanian-president-berates-government-rules-out-early-elections/

EurActiv, 10.02.17: Romanian justice minister quits after graft decree debacle http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/romanian-justice-minister-quits-after-graft-decree-debacle/

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