New anti-govt protest in Romania after Friday clashes

World
Europe

Thousands of Romanians turned out on Sunday in Bucharest for a third straight night of protests against government corruption, two days after a mass rally sank into chaos with hundreds injured in clashes with police.

Singing the national anthem and waving Romanian flags, about 15,000 protesters amassed at Victory Square outside government headquarters, whistling, blowing vuvuzelas and shouting "Corruption kills! Resignation!".

The crowd was notably thinner than on the previous two nights, when tens of thousands had gathered, but many again came to express their anger, accusing the leftwing government of corruption and urging it to resign.

People shout slogans during an anti-government protest in Bucharest, Romania, August 12, 2018. /VCG Photo

"Every day after work I wish to come here... I am very determined. They can't ignore us forever," demonstrator Teona Deftu told AFP news agency.

"We should make our presence felt, and they should understand that they are not wanted anymore at the country's helm," said Cuc Valeriu, a factory worker, adding that people should not have to wait for elections to express their discontent.

The protests in Bucharest and in several other major cities were peaceful, in contrast to the first night of demonstrations on Friday when riot police fired tear gas and used water cannon on a huge rally in the capital.

More than 450 people, including 30 police, were injured and around 30 people were arrested.

People attend a protest in Bucharest, Romania in this image taken from social media on August 10, 2018. /VCG Photo

Police have denied using excessive force, saying officers had responded in a "gradual and proportionate" manner to violence allegedly perpetrated by dozens of protesters

Peaceful rallies have repeatedly been held since the Social Democrats took power in early 2017 and tried to decriminalize several graft offenses.

Most recently, people were angered last month when Romania – one of the EU's most corruption-plagued countries – sacked top anti-graft prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, considered a symbol of the country's fight against corruption.

Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea was also sentenced to three and a half years in prison by the Supreme Court in June for incitement to abuse of office, a ruling which is not final as it is pending an appeal.

(Top picture: An effigy is seen during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, August 11, 2018. /VCG Photo)

7069km

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters