Romania: gov’t to stage huge rally against justice ‘abuses’

BUCHAREST, Romania – Romania’s ruling party says it will stage a huge rally in the capital to protest against what it calls abuses of the justice system.

Liviu Dragnea, chairman of the Social Democratic Party, said Monday the party will bus in hundreds of thousands of supporters from all over Romania for the Saturday demonstration.

Dragnea himself can’t be prime minister due to a conviction for vote-rigging. He is on trial in two other corruption cases. He denies wrongdoing.

The Social Democrats say prosecutors have too much power and have committed abuses. The party says the rally is designed to boost support for democracy.

Last year, the anti-corruption agency successfully prosecuted 713 officials, including 28 mayors, 38 managers of public institutes and a senator.