(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 20 GEN - Thousands of protesters have gathered in Romania to try to block government from weakening anti-corruption laws. The government, who took office in December, plans to grant prison pardons and decriminalize some offences through emergency decrees that could weaken an anti-corruption drive. The new law would enable to excuse thousands of convictions of less than 5 years in a bid to ease over-crowding in prisons. The government also aims to decriminalize abuse of power. It has been reported that this kind of offence is to account for a third of all anti-corruption investigations.

Around 3,000 people gathered in Bucharest as protests took place across the country including in the western city of Cluj, as well as Sibiu, Iasi and Craiova. Earlier on Wednesday, President Klaus Iohannis attended his first government meeting since taking office in 2014, Reuters said. He urged ministers not to amend the criminal code via decree. Decrees come into effect immediately. Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told reporters the decrees were not on the agenda this week, but that they could be once the judiciary is consulted. (ANSA).