On 26 November in Bucharest, 15.000 people joined an anti-government protest asking the Parliament to drop several controversial changes to the justice laws and to vote against the Government’s recent fiscal changes. The protest was organised by around 40 civic groups and NGOs, as well as two of the biggest union confederations. As reported, many people fear that the recent tax changes and the changes in the justice laws and criminal codes may be aimed at helping some politicians with legal problems. However, as the protests are to continue, the Bucharest Mayor’s Office, is taking actions deterring civic protests in front of the Governmental building. Civil society protests have also been happening in Poland around the same time. On 24 November, thousands of Poles concerned about the direction of judicial and electoral changes took to the streets of Warsaw to protest what is widely perceived as the government’s drive to expand its powers. The rally was sparked by the decision of the ruling party’s lawmakers to give preliminary approval to two controversial bills on judiciary reform that would allow the justice minister to appoint judges, among other changes, after the Polish president vetoed them in July.
Source: Romania Insider / European Civic Forum / Sputnik News