Protest Demonstrations Work! (Sometimes, At Least)

Click here for an article at The Economist entitled "Huge protests force Romania’s government to reverse itself on corruption." The article explains how giant crowds of protesters in the capital, Bucharest, forced the government to reverse itself.

Liviu Dragnea, leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), has been charged with abuse of power. It is alleged that he granted contracts to associates who performed no work. The government passed an "emergency decree" effectively decriminalizing corruption where the amount of money involved is less than US$47,600.

Within an hour of the measure’s adoption, more than 10,000 protesters were on the streets. The following night the numbers rose to an estimated 250,000 in more than 50 cities and towns across the country, the largest rallies in a quarter of a century.

The demonstrations peaked at over 500,000 people last Sunday, even though the government had rescinded the emergency ordinance earlier that day. Protesters hoped to send the message that they would be watching to see that the government did not backslide.