Romania's Government Rallies 150,000 Supporters Over Courts

(Bloomberg) -- Romania’s ruling coalition held a rally in Bucharest against what it calls “abuses in the justice system,” part of efforts to counter protesters who say the government is hampering an anti-corruption drive.

About 150,000 supporters of the Social Democrats and its junior coalition partner gathered Saturday evening in the capital, according to police estimates. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and other ministers attended. Banners in the crowd included the slogans “Stop the Stalinist trials” and “We want justice, not political police.”

A controversial revamp of the court system triggered the biggest demonstrations since communism last year, prompting the government to rescind its plans. It’s currently trying to fire the prosecutor spearheading the graft crackdown. Liviu Dragnea, the Social Democrat boss who’s seen as the nation’s most powerful politician, is awaiting a verdict in a corruption trial on June 21. He’s already been given a suspended sentence for a vote-rigging conviction that prevents him from taking the prime minister’s job. Dragnea also attended the rally.

To contact the reporter on this story: Irina Vilcu in Bucharest at isavu@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Scott Rose at rrose10@bloomberg.net, Andrew Langley

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