Protests in the Romania against justice ordinance, public gatherings ruling

The recent emergency ordinance that brings additional changes to the justice laws and the High Court of Cassation and Justice's ruling on public gatherings have sparked new protests across the country and in the capital. Some 1,000 people protested in Bucharest during the evening of October 21 against the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) and the government. The protest, which took place in Victoriei Square, came after the Government adopted the emergency ordinance OUG 92 which brings changes to the justice laws. The protesters carried flags of Romania and the European Union, sang the national anthem and turned on the lights of their phones at 21:00. Signatures in support of the initiative New People in Politics were gathered at the event. The initiative aims to reform the electoral law. In Timişoara, approximately 250 people protested this past weekend in the Operei Square against the emergency ordinance OUG 92. The protesters said the ordinance “seriously endangers the activity of the Anticorruption Directorate DNA and of the General Prosecutor’s Office,” Agerpres reported. The protesters requested the resignation of justice minister Tudorel Toader and early elections. They carried placards with messages such as “You gassed us, you will not get away!”, “Early elections, this is not acceptable any more!” or “Justice, not corruption!” Timişoara-born philosopher Mihai Şora also attended the protest. Şora, who is 101 years old, emerged over the past year as one of the most recognizable figures of the protests that have been taking place in Romania. “Let’s not lose faith in the future of this country. We will win in the end,” Şora said. In Cluj-Napoca, also in western Romania, 100 people protested against the recent ruling that all public gatherings must be declared beforehand when they take place in public squares or in places close to the HQ of legal entities. They also protested against the emergency ordinance on the justice laws. The protesters spoke of “the dismantling of the PSD” because the party is going against its own statute, which says that convicted people cannot be part of the party’s leadership, Agerpres reported. Meanwhile, the Vă vedem din Sibiu (We see you from Sibiu) movement has continued to organize silent protests in front of the PSD headquarters in the city. Vă vedem din Sibiu has been organizing protests since last year. editor@romania-insider.com