Romanian anti-corruption protests continue

Anti-government protests continue in freezing temperatures in Romania’s capital Bucharest.

The numbers are down – now in the tens of thousand rather than the hundreds of thousands seen earlier – but they remain just as resolute.

Despite political concessions – including the revoking of a decree decriminalising some corruption offences and the resignation of the justice minister – many who are out on the streets are not satisfied.

They want the government to resign and maintain that fewer demonstrators is not significant.

“It doesn’t matter how many we are here, because people at home feel the same. And we still need to change this. And people will come back, every day here, I’m sure,” said one.

“We are here because we want a better nation. We want justice to be applied, we want our rights to be listened to and respected.” said another.

“Here, we are not in this square for salaries or for pensions, we are here for a principle, we are here for an idea. And when an idea unites all of us around one idea, we are very strong.”

There were also reportedly protests in other Romanian cities.

Are Romania’s protests the start of a new chapter in global efforts to reinvent politics and root out corruption? https://t.co/qN6YhEMEb2— POLITICO Europe (@POLITICOEurope) February 11, 2017

In Bucharest on Saturday several hundred pro-government supporters also turned out.

They are angry at the country’s president Klaus Iohannis and want him to stand down.

One said: “He divided Romania, and he is not right. No, not at all. Please, our president, help Romania, help us to work, to be together.”

He is not from the same party as the government, and has expressed support for the anti-corruption protests.

“I don’t take money from my patients, and when I refuse their money, some get worried” https://t.co/ZINsttLFpp— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 9, 2017