In a remarkable climbdown, the Romanian government rescinded a hugely controversial decree that would have decriminalized the corruption of public officials for crimes of less than €44,000. The move had threatened to undo years of anti-corruption measures that led to the jailing of thousands of people and to winning praise from investors and European bodies. However, the government badly misjudged the public and over the weekend caved into the pressure of a wave of mass demonstrations that showed no sign of abating. On Sunday evening, after the decree was abolished, 300,000 people filled Victoriei Square in central Bucharest to make what’s seen as the biggest anti-government protest of the country’s post-Communist era. There are now demands that the government resign, but prime minister Liviu Dragnea says only a vote of no confidence in Parliament could cause that to happen. It seems likely that the demonstrations will continue.
