2012–15 unrest in Romania

Romania's former prime minister, Victor Ponta, is returning to the front lines of the country's political scene after being acquitted of corruption charges at the beginning of May. His new faction, Pro Romania, has also started recruiting prominent Social Democrat MPs, much to the concern of the ruling party leadership.

Amendments to Romania's justice legislation were the main topic discussed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace by President Klaus Iohannis and First Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights Frans Timmermans.

A crowd of around 150,000 people took to the streets in Bucharest on Wednesday to protest against a new government corruption decree.

About the same total number of people gathered in several other cities across the country.

The leader of the ruling Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea has been brought to court on charges of abuse of office.

„This case is based on false evidence," stated Dragnea to reporters on leaving the court room.

The case against him was postponed for February 14.

Tens of thousands of Romanians gathered to protest in Bucharest, reported Nova TV. They are against the plans of the government to release about 3,000 prisoners.

According to the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), Romanian jails are overcrowded and this is why thousands of people who have violated the law have to be released.

Leader of Romania's Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea has proposed Sevil Shhaideh for the post of prime minister.

Dragnea's party won the December 11 parliamentary elections.

Parliamentary parties begin two days of consultations on Tuesday after President Klaus Iohannis asked them to discuss Romania's national security laws in a bid to tighten up legislation following the recent attacks in Brussels.

"I proposed to find out the political parties' opinion. I won't delay this process anymore," Iohannis said recently.

Sorin Cîmpeanu will be Romania's new interim PM after Victor Ponta stepped down on Wednesday, state-run Agerpres agency has said.

President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday appointed Cîmpeanu, who until now was Ministry of Education.

Ponta stepped down on Wednesday morning after a deadly incident at a Bucharest nightclub triggered mass street protests against his government.

At least 30 000 people took to the streets of Romanian cities again on Wednesday, hours after the resignation of Prime Minister Victor Ponta's government.

Demonstrators blamed the incident at the Collectiv club in Bucharest which killed 32 people and injured hundreds last week.

With less than one year before crucial local and parliamentary elections, members of the ruling centre-left Social Democratic Party, PSD, overwhelmingly voted for Dragnea as the party's new leader on Sunday.