Thousands march against prison pardons in Romania

Thousands of Romanians rallied in Bucharest and cities across the country on Sunday to protest against government plans to decriminalize some offences and pardon some convicted prisoners through emergency decrees that critics say threaten to undermine a crackdown on high-level graft.

The new cabinet of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu last week unveiled the draft decrees, with the government saying would ease overcrowding in prisons . They have been criticised by the President, the prosecutor general, the supreme court, the chief anti-corruption prosecutor and the chief of the directorate fighting organised crime, as well as civil rights groups and diplomats.

All have expressed concern about the drafts, as well as a lack of transparency and the intention to legislate through decrees instead of going through parliament, despite having a strong majority there.

The proposal could primarily affect those with sentences under five years, except those convicted of crimes of a sexual nature, violence or corruption.

Prisoners over 60, pregnant women and people with young children would see their sentences halved regardless of their convictions.

Prison authorities say 3,700 prisoners could be freed. The government said about 2,500 would be freed.

More than 10,000 protesters gathered on Sunday in University Square in Bucharest, and later broke through police lines, before heading toward government headquarters. Thousands also protested in the western city of Cluj and in Iași in the north.