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Romanians Resume Protests After Threat to Anti-Graft Crusader

Romanians Resume Protests After Threat to Anti-Graft Crusader

(Bloomberg) -- Thousands of Romanians took to the streets in a show of support for the Balkan country’s anti-corruption chief, who’s facing an attack on her job after she helped lock up dozens of politicians.

More than 3,000 people gathered at the government building in Bucharest on Sunday, while 4,000 more marched in other cities, defying snow and freezing temperatures, according to estimates by TV stations. The demonstrators are angry at Justice Minister Tudorel Toader’s bid to oust Laura Codruta Kovesi, the top graft-busting prosecutor, even as scandals engulfed some of her colleagues.

Romanians Resume Protests After Threat to Anti-Graft Crusader

“This is no longer about Kovesi, it’s about the symbol she represents and the entire anti-corruption fight,” Elena Vladescu, a 30-year-old accountant, said while protesting in Bucharest. “They try to make us believe that stealing is OK but that’s not a country I want to live in.”

Romania’s ruling coalition has called for a review of the anti-corruption authorities, who have prosecuted several politicians, including a incumbent prime minister. The Social Democrats, who’ve already replaced two premiers in the past year, have also triggered protests and European Union criticism after trying to ease punishments for corruption. Last year, 500,000 demonstrators gathered in the biggest protests since communism ended to successfully stop the changes.

Romanians Resume Protests After Threat to Anti-Graft Crusader

On Thursday, Toader presented a list of 20 alleged violations committed by Kovesi in her role. They include undermining parliament and the government, exceeding her authority, interfering in cases and seeking convictions “at any cost.”

Kovesi denies wrongdoing, saying she plans to respond to the allegations. She’s spoken previously of unprecedented efforts to undermine the rule of law and the fight against corruption by suspects on trial or under investigation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andra Timu in Bucharest at atimu@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrea Dudik at adudik@bloomberg.net, Andrew Langley, Christopher Elser

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.