Posted on 02/14/2017 1:26:08 PM PST by Lorianne
Protesters numbering in the tens of thousands gathered again Sunday outside the Romanian government's offices to demand the resignation of the East European country's leadership.
The enormous crowds assembled in Victory Square marked the 13th consecutive day of anti-government demonstrations in Bucharest, the capital. They later formed a huge human Romanian flag.
The protests demanding a new government and a new style of governance started last month when the center-left government passed an emergency ordinance that would have watered down laws that punish official corruption.
"I've been coming here to show them they can't just govern the way they like. They can't trick us or buy us off with a few lei," demonstrator Bogdan Bogatoniu said, referring to the Romanian currency.
Thousands also protested in the cities of Cluj, Sibiu, Iasi, and Timisoara.
"Romanians have woken up, they can't be fooled anymore," said Bogatoniu, a 33-year old IT expert who came to the square with his wife and 2-month-old son.
Meanwhile, about 1,000 government supporters gathered outside the presidential palace. For the eight consecutive day, they called for the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis, who condemned the emergency decree and has vocally supported the anti-government protests.
Premier Sorin Grindeanu withdrew the disputed ordinance a week ago following days of demonstrations, the biggest street protests since communism ended in 1989. The justice minister resigned last week over widespread public anger.
The withdrawn decree was one of a series of government initiatives that would have also eased penalties for the ruling Social Democrats' leader, Liviu Dragnea. A vote-rigging conviction has blocked Dragnea from becoming prime minister.
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Romans huh? Durn Romany. Which side are we on?
I wonder how many of the demonstrators even think about this.
The fact that they can demonstrate in the street without being shot down by security forces...that’s due in large part to Ronald Reagan and John Paul II. And an honorable mention to Maggie Thatcher.
Romanians have been known to act decisively when political leaders go too far. They put Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife up against a wall and weighted them down with hot lead in 1989.
The think about it. They also remember how they were betrayed by the U.S. and Britain in and after WWII.
In 1944 King Michael, who still lives, at age 23 overthrew the fascist government that had control of Romania, declared war on Germany and asked for aid from the U.S and Britain as Soviet forces pushed in on his country. The soviets took over and in 1947, the young king was forced into exile.
The current Romanian government issued a decree that corruption from a politician, when it amounted to less than $50,000 (approx.) in money trading hands, was not punishable by the courts. (Yes, they tried to legalize “petty” corruption).
The streets erupted in protests, albeit very peaceful protests, and the President, who ran on an anti-corruption campaign, has been highly supportive of the people.
Romanians are tired of corruption, tired of being ruled by politicians, and wary of relying on any other power.
We should be on the side of the people of Romania and opposed to the forces of corruption. And we should also remember that the last time they asked for our aid, we turned away from them.
It was pretty silly to dry to make a law like that, pardoning corruption. I’m with the people on this one.
“Center Left”
LOL, yeah, sure....
They are a NATO country.
I think that means we are on the side of the government.
Or, the other side.
Nobody is sure.
But, who cares what happens in Romania and why are they a NATO country?
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