Ruckus in Romania

[rowan]

Looks like it's all kicking off in Romania, but comparisons to '89 are undoubtedly way over the top . . .



Protesters in Bucharest have condemned a government decision to decriminalise some misconduct offences, in one of the biggest demonstrations since the 1989 revolution.

Tens of thousands of angry Romanians claim the passing of an emergency decree on Tuesday will allow corrupt politicians to escape justice.

The change in the law will decriminalises official misconduct in cases where the financial damage is less than 200,000 lei (44,000 euros).

Journalist and blogger Lucian Mindruta was one of those taking part in the protest:

“It’s an incredible manifestation of disappointment from these people who feel that they have been cheated. They have been deceived by the government. This Socialist government came to power only one month ago and in one month they managed to have 100.000 people unprecedented since the revolution on the streets against it.”

http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/02/prot ... rruption-u

' This was a peaceful protest until a violent protesting group started attacking police with the majority of the protestor chanting notlikethis. Very misleading article. Shame on you for making a long peaceful protest look disgraceful'

[Digby]

It's not all kicking off, and it's also perhaps a bit misleading to say 250,000 people turned out at one protest.

The government tried to make new provisions without going through parliament that many who would have faced criminal charges for corruption would now face a lesser charge and perhaps pay some fine. Many people have protested this, and perhaps 250-300k protested it across the country, but only maybe 100-150k in Bucharest itself (though keep in mind it's not exactly warm there right now)

The protests were peaceful and are likely to return in peaceful fashion tonight. There were some disturbances, but it's quite likely they were local lunatic football fans (sometimes known as ultras) who might well have received payment from people associated with the SDP (ruling party) so that the government could label the protesters violent. But as it now seems quite obvious that out of a crowd of 150k or so that only a few hundred were getting into a disturbance with the police, and it mayn't have been stones they were throwing it was very likely ice, and that the security services seemingly reported to government they were hearing there'd be this trouble it might be more than a little difficult to paint the protesters as violent given they don't seem to have been that

[rowan]

It's not all kicking off, and it's also perhaps a bit misleading to say 250,000 people turned out at one protest.

The government tried to make new provisions without going through parliament that many who would have faced criminal charges for corruption would now face a lesser charge and perhaps pay some fine. Many people have protested this, and perhaps 250-300k protested it across the country, but only maybe 100-150k in Bucharest itself (though keep in mind it's not exactly warm there right now)

The protests were peaceful and are likely to return in peaceful fashion tonight. There were some disturbances, but it's quite likely they were local lunatic football fans (sometimes known as ultras) who might well have received payment from people associated with the SDP (ruling party) so that the government could label the protesters violent. But as it now seems quite obvious that out of a crowd of 150k or so that only a few hundred were getting into a disturbance with the police, and it mayn't have been stones they were throwing it was very likely ice, and that the security services seemingly reported to government they were hearing there'd be this trouble it might be more than a little difficult to paint the protesters as violent given they don't seem to have been that

Yes, that's the gist of the comments relating to that video - one of many I read. Just shows how much the news is able to distort things in this age of internet and social media. The half-minute video clips designed for those too lazy to actually read the news (let alone analyse it) are becoming the scourge of 21st century reporting. Do you have a source for your info, btw? Just curious.

[rowan]

Demonstrations help bring about the first resignation . . .

A Romanian minister has said he is resigning in protest at the social democratic government’s stance on corruption.

It comes after some of the biggest demonstrations since the 1989 revolution that brought down communism.

There’s widespread anger over an emergency decree decriminalising corruption offences below a certain amount.

Announcing his resignation, the Business Environment Minister Florin Jianu said on his Facebook page (in Romanian) that he intended to quit because he didn’t want to have to tell his child that he was a coward and agreed to something he didn’t believe in.

Since the government was sworn in last month, its apparent retreat on reforms has caused widespread alarm.

The decree has provoked a no-confidence motion from opposition parties, a court challenge from the top judicial watchdog and a warning from the EU Commission. Several countries have written a letter expressing deep concern.


http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/02/roma ... ion-stance

[Digby]

They're already at two resignations, or they were.

[rowan]

My experience of Romania was a few days in Bucharest about a decade ago when I was still doing visa runs

Took the train up during Ramazan and discovered there was no food on the train - and the journey lasted 22 hours. So I ended up doing my own 'Ramazan fast' on that trip!! My cabin-mates were a couple of kids from Kentucky and they, appropriately enough, had a bottle of bourbon with them, so that was our sustenance 'til Bucharest.

My three days in the capital were not really worth mentioning. Bland architecture, chilly weather, and rip-off artist taxi drivers. But the food was good, and I also discovered I could read a little bit of Romanian due to my knowledge of Spanish (I hadn't learnt French at that time). The local accent was distinctly more Eastern European than Latin, however; and I understood nothing of the spoken language. If you can picture Russians speaking Italian, that was kind of what it was like.

Which is a round about way of saying I'm no expert on the place...

[rowan]

Into their 5th day, the protests seem to be getting bigger - and they seem to be winning

The leader of Romania’s governing Social Democrats (PSD) says the government might withdraw the corruption decree that has triggered massive street protests and international condemnation since it was approved earlier this week.

PSD chief Liviu Dragnea is seen as leading government policy.

He says he will meet with other senior party figures to discuss the fallout from the decree.

“There may even be talks to withdraw it, if the prime minister would want that,” Dragnea said in an interview.

“I feel I can’t keep under control from the centre…the pressure from regional organisations that can bring one million people onto the streets of Bucharest.”

“As a result, I decided to meet coalition partners to propose a solution to solve the deadlock.”




http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/04/roma ... be-dropped

[rowan]

Official now. Nice job, Romanians!!

Romania's government has said it will withdraw a decree decriminalising minor grant offences, backing down on a controversial plan to water down anti-corruption laws following five days of mass protests across the country.

Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told a hastily convened news conference that the government would meet on Sunday to repeal the emergency decree that had raised worries of a retreat in the fight against corruption.

"I do not want to divide Romania. It can't be divided in two," Grindeanu said on Saturday.


The announcement came as tens of thousands of people protested for a fifth consecutive day against the contentious decree that decriminalises abuse of power offences in which the sums do not exceed 200,000 lei ($48,000).

Al Jazeera's David Chater, reporting from the demonstration in the capital, Bucharest, said the news about the decree's withdrawal had sparked victory celebrations.

"People power on the street has succeeded in pushing the government into making these concessions," Chater said.

"There is going to be a massive celebration here, instead of another heated protest."

The decree, adopted on Tuesday and due to enter into force on February 10, prompted large protests throughout the country, the largest since the fall of communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.



http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/r ... 05258.html

[rowan]

I love happy endings

Romanian Justice Minister Florin Iordache has resigned over the decree to reduce penalties for corruption and the subsequent mass protest and international condemnation.

Mr Iordache drafted the bill, which the government withdrew following the public outcry.

The decree could have been used to shield
politicians from prosecution for corruption for graft.

http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/09/roma ... ion-decree

[Adder]

My experience of Romania was a few days in Bucharest about a decade ago when I was still doing visa runs

Took the train up during Ramazan and discovered there was no food on the train - and the journey lasted 22 hours. So I ended up doing my own 'Ramazan fast' on that trip!! My cabin-mates were a couple of kids from Kentucky and they, appropriately enough, had a bottle of bourbon with them, so that was our sustenance 'til Bucharest.

My three days in the capital were not really worth mentioning. Bland architecture, chilly weather, and rip-off artist taxi drivers. But the food was good, and I also discovered I could read a little bit of Romanian due to my knowledge of Spanish (I hadn't learnt French at that time). The local accent was distinctly more Eastern European than Latin, however; and I understood nothing of the spoken language. If you can picture Russians speaking Italian, that was kind of what it was like.

Which is a round about way of saying I'm no expert on the place...

Romania is great. I've been to Bucarest, Brasov, Sibiu, Sigishoara(spelling) and Timisoara. I was also hiking around transylvania and met lots of people. There are a lot of French speakers. Would recomend it to anyone. It's really cheap as well. I hear the Danube Delta is beautiful and Cluj Napoca is supposedly(from picture) a beautiful city. Like Bulgaria, they were the Granary for the Ottoman empire (and were thus severely repressed many times). The land is very green and picturesque. I went to Bucarest 10 years ago but I hear it has changed a lot in the last decade. (great for a Rugby tour I have been told).

[rowan]

In fact, this isn't over at all. The protests are continuing, with 50,000 out in Bucharest last night, & the government still to confirm the rescission of an emergency law that would have freed dozens of politicians imprisoned on corruption charges.

http://www.business-review.eu/news/roma ... est-130408

[rowan]

Latest:

Romania’s parliament on Monday unanimously endorsed a presidential proposal for a nationwide referendum to get public support for the fight against corruption.

There is no time-frame yet and MPs’ backing for the plan is not binding.

But it does send a strong message, amid the largest display of popular anger since the fall of communism.

Rallies over the last two weeks forced the new Social Democrat government to rescind a decree watering down anti-corruption laws, which would have effectively shielded dozens of public officials from prosecution.

http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/13/roma ... referendum

[Mellsblue]

This is the sort of s**t that happens when you let people protest rather than shoot at them or throw them in jail. Democracy is a bitch.

[Stom]

My experience of Romania was a few days in Bucharest about a decade ago when I was still doing visa runs

Took the train up during Ramazan and discovered there was no food on the train - and the journey lasted 22 hours. So I ended up doing my own 'Ramazan fast' on that trip!! My cabin-mates were a couple of kids from Kentucky and they, appropriately enough, had a bottle of bourbon with them, so that was our sustenance 'til Bucharest.

My three days in the capital were not really worth mentioning. Bland architecture, chilly weather, and rip-off artist taxi drivers. But the food was good, and I also discovered I could read a little bit of Romanian due to my knowledge of Spanish (I hadn't learnt French at that time). The local accent was distinctly more Eastern European than Latin, however; and I understood nothing of the spoken language. If you can picture Russians speaking Italian, that was kind of what it was like.

Which is a round about way of saying I'm no expert on the place...

Romania is great. I've been to Bucarest, Brasov, Sibiu, Sigishoara(spelling) and Timisoara. I was also hiking around transylvania and met lots of people. There are a lot of French speakers. Would recomend it to anyone. It's really cheap as well. I hear the Danube Delta is beautiful and Cluj Napoca is supposedly(from picture) a beautiful city. Like Bulgaria, they were the Granary for the Ottoman empire (and were thus severely repressed many times). The land is very green and picturesque. I went to Bucarest 10 years ago but I hear it has changed a lot in the last decade. (great for a Rugby tour I have been told).

The centre of Cluj is great, and it has many great pubs. But get outside of the tiny little centre and it's tower block jungle. Really not nice to look at.

The centre, though, is lovely. It has a very student feel to it, with so many students.

We'll be heading over this summer, to a little village in Sekler land.

[rowan]

Anybody been to Constanta? That was on my list back in the old days when I used to have to do visa runs. But then I got my residency here and never went. I'm more of a beach holiday fan and have been to both Burgas and Varna on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, which are really nice