BUCHAREST — Thousands of people marched through the Romanian capital and other cities Sunday to protest a government proposal to pardon thousands of prisoners, which critics say could reverse the anticorruption fight.
More than 10,000 protesters massed in University Square, and later broke through police lines, before heading toward government headquarters. Thousands also protested in the cities of Cluj, Timisoara in western Romania, in Sibiu, and Iasi, a city in the north. The protest in Bucharest ended after nearly four hours.
In the capital, protesters yelled: ‘‘We want democracy, with thieves in prison.’’ They cheered after President Klaus Iohannis, a government critic who supports the anticorruption drive, turned up at the protest.
‘‘A gang of politicians who have problems with the law want to change the legislation and weaken the state of law,’’ Iohannis said. ‘‘Romanians are rightly indignant.’’
Some protesters were elderly, while others carried children on their shoulders or held them in their arms. Demonstrators called the ruling Social Democratic Party ‘‘the red plague’’ and marched several miles north to the party headquarters where they booed party leaders.
Premier Sorin Grindeanu wants to pass an emergency ordinance to pardon prisoners, which his government says would ease overcrowding in prisons. Critics say it would help government allies convicted of corruption. They also say the proposal should be debated in Parliament.
He hasn’t reacted to the protests, which first erupted Wednesday.
Donald Simionoiu, an art director, said that he believes that the proposal ‘‘hides other things,’’ noting that it would benefit Liviu Dragnea, Social Democrat chairman, who has a two-year suspended prison sentence for vote rigging, and media mogul Dan Voiculescu, who is serving a 10-year sentence for money laundering.
The justice ministry published a draft of the plan Wednesday, which was criticized by Romania’s top prosecutor, magistrates, and opposition politicians. The proposal could primarily affect primarily those with sentences under five years, except for those convicted of crimes of a sexual nature, violence, or corruption.
Prisoners over 60, pregnant women, and inmates with young children would see their sentences halved regardless of their convictions.
Prison authorities say 3,700 prisoners could be freed. The government said around 2,500 would be freed.
Associated Press
