A sixth consecutive day of demonstrations is expected across Romania on Monday. Citizens are demanding a clean-up of the judiciary following a weekend of mass protests.
On Sunday, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital, Bucharest, and other cities. They rallied in support of judges and prosecutors who have publicly denounced systemic abuses within the legal system.
“Systemic Dysfunction”
The unrest was triggered by an open letter signed by approximately 700 judges and prosecutors. Published on social media, the letter complains of “profound and systemic dysfunction” within the justice sector.
The outcry follows a documentary aired last week by the independent media outlet Recorder. The investigation alleged that politically backed chief judges are exploiting legal loopholes to facilitate unethical practices, including questionable acquittals.
Furthermore, the report claimed that magistrates who attempt to expose these issues often face disciplinary retaliation.
Official Responses
President Nicusor Dan has responded to the growing crisis by announcing urgent consultations with members of the judiciary, scheduled for December 22.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the President noted that when such a large number of magistrates complain of “an integrity problem in the justice system, things are very serious.”
However, the response from within the hierarchy has been defensive. Judges on the country’s judicial watchdog dismissed the documentary, characterizing it as an attempt to destabilize the justice system.
Voices from the Street
Despite the pushback from top officials, public anger is mounting. Late Sunday, roughly 10,000 people marched through Bucharest.
Chants of “Justice not corruption,” “We see you,” and “Independence not obedience” echoed through the capital, with similar gatherings reported in cities nationwide.
Liviu, a 28-year-old physicist attending the protest, expressed the general sentiment of disillusionment.
“At the moment, the most visible impact in society is that trust in the Romanian justice system… is completely missing,” he said.
Background to the Crisis
Legal experts trace the current turmoil back to legislative changes made in 2022. These reforms granted chief judges on the judicial watchdog unchecked powers over their subordinates, a move critics say paved the way for the abuses now coming to light.
The situation has deteriorated since the European Union lifted its special monitoring of Romania’s justice system in 2023.
Since then, the pace of anti-corruption investigations has notably slowed. A series of recent high-level acquittals has further fueled concerns that the nation’s once-robust fight against graft has faded.
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