Latest News from Romania

Romania Gives Up Criminal Code Changes Draft to Prepare Better One

Romania's Justice Ministry wants to "draft a more complex" bill amending the country's Criminal Code, state-run Agerpres agency says, citing a spokesperson for the institution.

The ministry has added it is not "concerned" with drawing up a new law changing the code.

Romanian PM refuses to resign amid mass protests

Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced Feb. 5 that he will not resign amid nationwide protests that drew an estimated half a million protesters against a recent government decision to decriminalize certain graft offenses. 

Romania Protesters Keep up Pressure on Govt

Romania's Justice Ministry gave up plans to change the criminal code and decriminalize some graft offences following days of mass protests.

"The ministry is now seeking to draft a bill to change and amend law No 286/2009 regarding the criminal code and law No 135/2010 regarding the criminal procedure code," the ministry said on Monday

Walloon PM Says Bulgaria Should Quit EU

Wallonia's Minister-President has said Bulgaria should leave the EU, alongside other Eastern European countries.

It is "desirable" that Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria follow in the UK's lockstep, Le Monde [FR] quotes Paul Magnette, who heads the Belgian region's government, as saying.

No Confidence Vote Due against Romania's Govt after 6th Night of Protests

Parliament in Romania will deal with both a no-confidence motion against the government and a state budget on Monday, after days of protests against the government.

The motion, filed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Union to Save Romania (USR) will be read at noontime, according to the Romania Insider.

Sofia Holding Solidarity Rally in Front of Romanian Embassy

Sofia residents staged a demonstration in front of the Romanian Embassy on Sunday to show their solidarity with Romanian protesters.

The action began at 17:00 local time (EET), after days of protests in Romania against a decree which decriminalizes abuse of office worth less than EUR 44 000.

Mass protests force Romania to scrap decree decriminalizing graft

Romania's prime minister said on Feb. 4 he was scrapping a decree that would have shielded dozens of politicians from prosecution for corruption, bowing to one of the biggest protests since the fall of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. 

Romania's Govt 'Formally Annuls' Controversial Criminal Law Decree

The cabinet of Romania has formally revoked the decree the sparked nationwide protests for much of this week, local media report.

An official statement will be due soon, Reuters quotes a government source as saying.

Earlier, demonstrators said they would remain in the streets unless the government scrapped the decree.

Romanians to Remain on Streets until Controversial Decree Repealed

Romanian demonstrators welcomed the government's decision to scrap an emergency ordinance party decriminalizing abuse of office.

However, they added protests would continue until the ordinance was repealed.

On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said authorities had heard and seen "many options" and did not "want to divide Romania".

Romanian Govt to Scrap Anti-Graft Decree Amid Protests

Sorin Grindeanu, Romania's Prime Minister, announced on Saturday that the cabinet would hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to annul a decree decriminalizing some graft offences.

Romania PSD Chief Hints at Scrapping Controversial Decree

The head of Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party, PSD, Liviu Dragnea, on Saturday said the cabinet might withdraw an emergency decree that decriminalizes graft-related offences.

The decree approved last Tuesday has triggered the biggest street protests Romania has seen in years, and has also drawn international condemnation as a major step backwards on reforms.

Mass Protests Against Romanian Govt Decree Continue

The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) has opposed the amendment to the Penal Code via emergency government decrees, reported Dnevnik daily.

Romania Braces for Weekend of Anti-Corruption Protests

Protesters against the Social Democratic Party government's decision to relax anti-corruption legislation have planned more large rallies across the country over the weekend, as Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu's cabinet faced domestic and international pressure to drop the controversial decree that decriminalises abuse of office.

Romanian PM defiant after huge protests

Romania's prime minister insisted Feb. 2 that the government will press ahead with decrees decriminalizing certain corruption offences, defying the country's biggest protests since the end of communism.

Putin Eyes Renewing Energy Projects With Bulgaria

Following his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Russia's readiness to renew energy partnerships with Bulgaria, despite lingering disappointent over the collapse of the South Stream gas pipeline project.

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