Mass protests erupt in Romania after corruption law change

Protests against the official decriminalisation of corruption in Romania have led to violent clashes overnight in the capital of Bucharest.

Critics of the new laws introduced by the government say that it will allow politicians to freely commit crimes in office. The emergency decree was declared on Tuesday night in the country.

Romania's justice minister announced that the measure would waive abuses of power in which the financial damage is below 200,000 lei (£38,000).

Demonstrations began more than two weeks ago when the laws were first proposed, but descended into violence on Wednesday in the largest unrest the country has seen since the fall of communism 27 years ago.

The country's president Klaus Iohannis was one of those who was critical of the new corruption law, referring to its passing as "a day of mourning for the rule of law ... which has received a grave blow from the enemies of justice."

Wednesday saw 150,000 protesters take to the streets of the Romanian capital, with 20 people being arrested and five taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries.

The Social Democrat government in the country has only been in power for a matter of weeks after previously being forced from office following another round of mass protests.

It said that the decree was necessary due to overcrowding in prisons, but opponents have pointed out that the ruling PSD leader Liviu Dragnea would directly benefit from the change, having been accused of defrauding the state of €24,000.