Graft decree dissent

BUCHAREST: A Romanian cabinet minister resigned yesterday over a government decree that could effectively amnesty dozens of officials accused of corruption, a move that has triggered countrywide protests.

More than 250 000 Romanians protested on Wednesday, in the biggest anti-corruption demonstration since the fall of communism in Romania in 1989. The decree, which decriminalises several graft offences, was hastily adopted by the cabinet on Tuesday, barely a month since the Social Democrat-led government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu took power. Business minister Florin Jianu announced on Facebook he was resigning.