Magistrates and members of the public protested in Bucharest on Friday joining unprecedented protests across the country against changes in judicial legislation that have raised alarm bells over the rule of law.
Ion Bucurica, a prosecutor joining the protest in Bucharest, said the demonstrators were defending judicial independence and the rule of law.
Romania's government used an emergency decree to alter the legislation on Tuesday mostly stripping prosecutors of more of their powers.
It was the latest in a series of changes the ruling Social Democrats have made in the past two years that have triggered massive street protests.
Prosecutors in cities from the capital to the small eastern Romanian city of Suceava will not work cases except emergencies from Monday for three to seven days. Many judges will also follow suit.
The February decree, put forward by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, changes the appointment process of chief prosecutors and removes most oversight of a prosecuting unit that investigates magistrates.
The ruling Social Democrats say the changes are intended to curb abuses committed by magistrates. The party has so far ignored European Commission recommendations to reconsider the changes.
Political analyst Mircea Marian said politicians were trying to stop corruption investigations and that Brussels' influence over the government was "equal to zero".
The country's anti-corruption prosecuting agency, DNA, has convicted thousands of public officials, including ministers and lawmakers, across party lines for high-level graft.
Their efforts have won praise from Brussels, diplomats and foreign investors, but disdain from most local politicians.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters