Romanian president tears into government after anti-corruption protests, prompting walkout

Romania's president on Tuesdaytore into the leftist-led government over a corruption decreethat sparked a week of huge street protests, though he backed itto remain in power in a potential reprieve for Prime MinisterSorin Grindeanu.

In a speech to parliament, the centrist President KlausIohannis admonished the Social Democrat-led government for thelate-night adoption of a cabinet decree on Feb. 1 that criticssaid would have turned the clock back on the fight againstcorruption in the former communist state, one of the mostgraft ridden in the European Union.

But Iohannis said the Social Democrats had won the right togovern in a December election and should continue to do so.Though his role is largely ceremonial, the president's powersinclude nominating the prime minister after elections and returning legislation to parliament for reconsideration.

"You have been saying in public that I would like tooverthrow the legitimate government," he told lawmakers. "That'sfalse. You won, now you govern and legislate, but not at anyprice.

"Romania needs a strong government, not one that shylyexecutes party orders," said Iohannis, a former leader of thecentre-right opposition. "You should legislate for Romania, notfor a group of politicians with problems."

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"The resignation of a single minister is too little andearly elections would at this stage be too much. This is theavailable room for manoeuvre."

A group of parliamentarians from the Social Democratic Party walked out during the address,but remaining legislators applauded Iohannis.

"On Dec. 11, the Social Democratic Party had a great victory [in the general election], but after that, ladies and gentlemen, with a strange Kamikaze-style strategy, they entered into a frontal collision with with an important part of Romanian society. They promised something during the campaign and during the first days they started to do something else," the president said.

"Your first priority was to take care of the criminals' files. Therefore, the Romanian people are resentful and have revolted," he said.

"Do we want to be a weak, contemptible nation that puts every thing at stake to save a few people from difficult situations; to save a few politicians from difficult situations?" he asked.

Decree repealed after week ofprotests

Romania's government revoked the decree on Sunday after250,000 protesters turned out in the capital of Bucharest, numbers not seensince the fall of communism in 1989. The order would havedecriminalised a number of graft offences.

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Crowds called for Grindeanu's cabinet to resign. Oneminister quit over the decree last week, saying he could notsupport it.

Some 25,000 rallied again in Bucharest on Mondayevening, far fewer than on Sunday.

It was unclear whether the fall in turnout meant thegovernment had ridden out the storm or had earned only atemporary respite.