Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Europe

Romania leader: govt won't resign in face of mass protests

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • e610646a-
    Image 1 of 3

    Tens of thousands of people shine lights from mobile phones and torches during a protest in front of the government building in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. Romania's government met Sunday to repeal an emergency decree that decriminalizes official misconduct, a law that has prompted massive protests at home and widespread condemnation from abroad. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) (The Associated Press)

  • 7e8d2508-
    Image 2 of 3

    Social Democratic Party leader Liviu Dragnea, whose path to becoming prime minister is effectively blocked by corruption charges, talks to the media in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. The largest anti-government crowds since the violent 1989 revolution that toppled dictator Nicolae Ceausescu succeed in pressuring Romania's new government to repeal a hastily adopted decree that would have eased penalties for official corruption. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (The Associated Press)

  • 7e8d2508-
    Image 3 of 3

    Members of the parliament prepare for a session in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. The largest anti-government crowds since the violent 1989 revolution that toppled dictator Nicolae Ceausescu succeed in pressuring Romania's new government to repeal a hastily adopted decree that would have eased penalties for official corruption. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (The Associated Press)

BUCHAREST, Romania – The leader of Romania's ruling center-left coalition says the government won't resign following the biggest demonstrations since the end of communism against a measure that would ease up on corruption.

Social Democratic chairman Liviu Dragnea emerged from a meeting with governing partners Monday saying that "we unreservedly expressed our support for the government ... and the prime minister."

On Sunday, the government backed down following six days of street protests from an emergency ordinance that would decriminalize abuse in office by officials if the amount involved was less than about $48,500. It plans to introduce another version of the law in Parliament, where it has a majority.

Dragnea, the major power broker in the government, is banned from being prime minister because of conviction in April 2016 for vote rigging.