Vlad Odobescu

Special for USA TODAY

BUCHAREST, Romania — Hundreds of thousands protested in Romania's capital and in major cities Wednesday after the government adopted a last-minute executive order that undermines the country's anti-corruption efforts.

The measure decriminalizes abuses of office if the financial damage involved is less than $48,000. That's more than twice the average Romanian's annual income of $22,300, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Justice Minister Florin Iordache said the changes — which take effect almost immediately — were necessary to bring the law in line with decisions by the country's Constitutional Court. But protesters were furious that the order could weaken efforts to stamp out bribery in one of Europe's poorest nations. It all but legalizes graft cases where small amounts of cash are used.



Shouting “thieves,” "rats" and telling politicians “You won’t escape,” an estimated 150,000 people demanded the resignation of the government as they surrounded buildings in the capital. Wednesday's protest followed one Sunday that brought tens of thousands of Romanians across the country onto the streets in anticipation of the order.

Wednesday's protest was the largest since the fall of communism in 1989.

"It is unacceptable, it is intolerable,” said Gheorghe Ion, 49, protesting in subzero temperatures. Ion said corruption is a legacy of the country's communist past.

"I have been participating in anti-communist protests since 1989. It is abnormal that after 27 years I am still here. ... This is the drama of my generation," Ion said.

The protesters are incensed that dozens of high-profile Romanian politicians, including the leader of the ruling party, Liviu Dragnea, will benefit from the new order. Dragnea went on trial Tuesday on charges that include promoting the abuse of office — charges worth about $26,000. He has already been convicted of electoral fraud.

Iordache also announced that a separate executive order, pardoning those who committed past offenses, will be sent to parliament. That means hundreds of politicians convicted of corruption the past few years will likely be set free.

The order bypasses parliament and was initiated by Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu of the Social Democrat Party, considered the successor of the former communist party in Romania.

The move brought immediate criticism from President, Klaus Iohannis, whose role is mostly as a figurehead but was elected in 2014 on an anti-corruption platform.

"It is a day of mourning for the rule of law … and for the fight against corruption," he said.

The order will have a detrimental impact on hundreds of cases, according to Romania's National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA), which deals with high-level corruption cases and is seen as a standard-bearer for Eastern European countries grappling with the issue,

Between 2014 and 2016, the DNA prosecuted 1,171 people and 34 organizations and companies for abuse of office, with losses due to corruption estimated at more than $1 billion. The agency is working on another 2,151 cases.

Romania is ranked No. 48 on Transparency International's 2016 corruption gauge, above Cuba but below Jordan. The United States is No. 19 on the index.

For the young in Romania, this fight is about their future.

“Some say that the young don’t' know what we are protesting against," said Dan Minel Stoica, 21, a musician in Bucharest. "But we feel when graft happens. This is against our principles."