Around 2,000 people protested in Bucharest, Romania on Sunday night against a draft bill that, if signed into law, would exempt MPs from being investigated on corruption charges, such as abuse of power or conflict of interest.
Demonstrators marched to government buildings carrying banners that read “criminal parliament running from the court” and chanting “united we will save all of Romania.”
Four protesters were arrested and fined. Three needed medical attention. One remained hospitalised after being hit in the head.
Brussels has had Romania’s justice system under special monitoring since it joined the EU in 2007.
The National Integrity Agency, an anti-graft watchdog, has said nearly 200 mayors, deputy mayors and councillors have had conflicts of interest, falsified statements or had wealth they could not account for since the middle of last year.
The opposition has said it will challenge the bill at the constitutional court. The president has said he will not approve it, but will send it back to the assembly.
