BUCHAREST: Thousands of anti-corruption protesters are demonstrating in cities around Romania for a fifth day after a court sentenced the country’s most powerful politician for official misconduct.
Demonstrators waved Romanian and European Union flags Sunday outside the government offices and yelled “Down with the Social Democratic Party.” Party leader Liviu Dragnea was handed a 3 ½ year sentence this week for abuse of power in office.
The Social Democrats have rallied around Dragnea, saying he should be considered innocent pending a final verdict. They want to implement new laws that critics say will weaken the nation’s fight against corruption.
Thousands also turned out in the cities of Cluj, Sibiu, Timisoara and Brasov.
In Bucharest, Elena Florea, 44, a medical registrar, said: “We are tired of the government’s lies and theft.”
