By Rahul Gupta
Over 250,000 people gathered in protest in Bucharest and other Romanian cities demonstrating against a new decree. An order legalising graft was passed by the Prime Minister bypassing their parliament. Passed as an emergency ordinance, the law decriminalises official misconduct where the financial damage is less than 48,000 USD.
[su_pullquote]Coming into effect immediately, this order by the Social Democratic Party will stall proceedings against several prominent Romanian politicians.[/su_pullquote]
Coming into effect immediately, this order by the Social Democratic Party will stall proceedings against several prominent Romanian politicians. The ordinance will also create a mandatory six month ‘cooling off’ period after which a complaint and formal proceedings can be initiated. The decree could potentially halt serious corruption proceedings against Luviv Dragnea, the president of the ruling party in Romania.
Dragnea went on trial this Tuesday and faces charges worth about 26,000 USD. Additionally, the ruling party expressed the intention to pass another decree pardoning politicians convicted under the old law. Although the government lists about 2500 people for pardoning, Romania’s prison authorities claim that around 3700 people would be freed under such a law.
Romanian protestors come up with an innovative way to voice their concerns over the government’s policy. | Photo Courtesy: Washington PostGripping EU’s corruption capital
Romania is one of the poorest countries in Europe and has been fighting endemic corruption for the last 10 years. Massive protests, in response to a fire at a nightclub, had driven out this ruling party in 2015. In spite of being blamed for corruption and impunity, the Social Democrats came back to power in December 2016.
Many countries including Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Finland and the United States expressed concern over the new law as it stands to roll back the progress made over the past decade.
The European Commission too came out strongly against the law stating that the rule may risk Romania’s EU funding. It rightly pointed that gains from measures towards increased transparency would be reversed by such a decree.
In its official statement, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said,
[su_quote]The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone.[/su_quote]
Where eruptions go unheard
The ruling party, since the announcement, has stood firm on its decision. The Justice Minister of Romania explains the law pressed into action to animate the will of the constitutional court which called for the easing of ‘prison overcrowding’. The ordinances state that the average local Romanian prison is at 150% of its occupancy.
The government resorted to the use of riot police to counter angry protestors. | Photo Courtesy: Boston HeraldTerming the day as “the day of mourning for rule of law”, President Klaus Iohannis joined the protest against the order. As over 2100 cases of alleged graft or misconduct await proceedings, streets of Romania rung with shouts like Thieves and You wont get away with it”. Protests arose across the two weeks regarding the amnesty granted to jail terms shorter than five years. Opposition parties too criticised the move and introduced a no-confidence motion against the ruling party demanding the resignation of senior government officials.
Where rules bend for the ruling
[su_pullquote align=”right”]Romanian executive power has consistently been abused and this unbridled nature fuels its instability.[/su_pullquote]
Whether the law comes in play or not, 2017 shall reveal. The trend, however, is worrisome. Romanian executive power has consistently been abused and this unbridled nature fuels its instability. For the people to retain faith in the institutions that underpin democracy, a sense of fairness and transparency is required.
This move abrogates the belief that the government is for the people. It takes years for a country to cultivate democratic traditions, norms and beliefs. Moves like these snap those traditions and make it harder for them to come back.