site.btaProtest Held Outside Cotroceni Palace During Romanian President's Meeting with Magistrates
A protest styled as traditional carol singing was staged outside Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest on Monday while President Nicusor Dan talked with magistrates. Half an hour before Dan's meeting with magistrates from across Romania to discuss weaknesses in the judicial system, demonstrators gathered outside the palace and began singing songs specially composed for the occasion.
Despite their wish to stand directly at the entrance to the presidential palace and assurances to police and gendarmerie officers that they had a permission from City Hall to do so, law enforcers did not allow them to get that close.
"Open your eyes, Nicusor. You can do something. Defend justice. Go to the Superior Council of Magistracy and remove the cushy jobs. All we want is to see all the corrupt persons behind bars," read the lyrics of one of the four songs performed during the protest.
"We want to encourage open discussion about the key problems in the judiciary and the pressure on its independence. The Christmas carols we performed today were written especially for this occasion, with lyrics inspired by the current situation in the judiciary," the organizers from the Declic Romanian platform for online campaigning, the Corruption Kills movement and Initiativa Romania told BTA.
"Perhaps Nicusor doesn't like carol singers," one of the organizers told BTA, while another added, "Maybe the magistrates are afraid of us."
Although small in number, Monday's protest attracted people of all ages.
"I attend all rallies. It is true that three weeks ago we were more numerous, but now people are at work or on holiday. I doubt we will change anything, but this is democracy - at least we can state openly what we are fighting for," said one elderly participant.
Another attendee of the same age came dressed in traditional Romanian costume. He held a sign reading: "Mr President, I'm a peasant and I kindly request to be received for a hearing on legal matters."
Meanwhile, a huge banner featuring Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan with the message "Change the Justice Laws" appeared at the Cocor shopping centre in downtown Bucharest. BTA spotted similar messages on several vehicles circulating near Cotroceni on Monday.
The wave of discontent in Romania began on December 10 following the release of the documentary Captured Justice by the investigative media outlet Recorder, in which several current and former magistrates spoke about pressure on the judicial system.
This prompted President Nicusor Dan to invite all magistrates to notify him about the issues they face, and he organized the meeting in Bucharest to identify weaknesses in the judiciary.
On Sunday, Dan announced that immediately after the holidays, he would initiate a referendum among magistrates on the country's judicial problems. The opposition was quick to react. Representatives of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) accused Dan of "disregarding the independence of the judiciary".
/TM/
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