Protests continue in Romania despite withdrawal of controversial decree

Protesters in Bucharest and other cities continued their protests despite Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu's decision to withdraw the controversial decree, Patria reports.

Around 170,000 people gathered in the Romanian capital. They chanted slogans of "Resignation, resignation" and waved Romanian flags. Shortly thereafter, on one of the buildings near the prime minister's office, a map of Romania was projected by laser with the words: "We have woken up!".

Protests were also organized in about 70 cities across Romania, with an estimated 330,000 people participating, according to police estimates.

Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu stated earlier, after the decision to withdraw the controversial decree decriminalizing many corruption cases was announced, that he did not want the country divided, and that the responsibility for the confusion it caused in the public lay with the Minister of Justice.

AP points out that Grindeanu said the proposal "will be sent to parliament for debate," which is unlikely to appease protesters demanding the decree be annulled.

"After all these days, we have made several decisions. First, tomorrow, at the government session, we will repeal this decree by urgent procedure," he said, adding that a legal way would be found for it not to take effect. Grindeanu emphasized that he did not want divisions in Romania.

"I do not want divisions. Romania cannot be split in half. Romania now looks like it is divided into two parts, and perhaps more. Such a situation is the last thing I want," he stressed, while thousands of people in the capital's streets welcomed this decision with relief. The decree caused the largest protests in Romania since the overthrow of Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime in 1989, B92 reports.