Romania's government refuses to quit despite dropping corruption amnesty in face of mass protests
Romania’s leftist government rejected calls to resign on Monday after the biggest protests since the fall of communism forced it to scrap a controversial decree offering amnesties for low-level corruption.
More than 250,000 people flooded into Bucharest’s Victorirei square on Sunday night to protest against the decree which would have protected politicians and officials accused of graft amounting less than €44,000 (£34,400) from prosecution.
"The government has no reason to resign, it was legitimately elected," Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the ruling Social Democrat Party, said on Monday.
"As long as this tense state continues in Romania no one has anything to gain," he added.
Mr Dragnea reiterated his faith in Sorin Grindeanu, the prime minister.
Sunday night’s protest was the largest in a series of demonstrations that broke out in Bucharest and other cities after the decree was published on Tuesday last week.
Hundreds of thousands chanted “We don't believe you, we won't give up," despite the government promising to scrap the decree.
The Social-Democrat led coalition government, which was elected less than two months ago, said the decree is simply aimed at bringing the country’s criminal code in line with the constitution, a reform that had also been proposed by the previous caretaker government.
Critics say the decree was specifically designed to effectively amnesty well-connected officials found guilty of embezzling state funds.
Romania has been plagued by endemic corruption since the fall of communism, and the proposed change in the law was seen by many Romanians as an attempt to reverse years of hard-won progress fighting it.
The demonstrations have thrown Romania into a political crisis with even Klaus Iohannis, the country’s president, and state anti-corruption officials siding with the demonstrators.
Florin Jianu, the trade and business minister, stepped down on Thursday. Florin Iordache, the justice minister, has ceded his duties to a deputy until Tuesday.
