From busing supporters to Bucharest to mass mailings of party slogans, Romania's left-wing government is pulling out all the stops for a demonstration on Saturday against the country's own judiciary.
The ruling Social Democrats (PSD) predict several hundred thousand people will turn out to denounce what they claim is abuse of power on the part of judges.
But critics say the demonstration is part of a campaign by the ruling party to weaken the judiciary and prevent it from acting against pervasive corruption in official institutions.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila is also expected at Saturday's event, to be centred on Bucharest's Victory Square, in front of the government's main offices.
The PSD hopes to match the record number of people that took to the streets last year to denounce planned reforms to the judiciary that opponents -- including Brussels -- said would have hurt judicial independence.
Among the demonstrators is expected to be PSD chief Liviu Dragnea.
He has led the party's charge on the judiciary since it returned to power in 2016, accusing it of creating a "parallel state" and painting himself as its victim.
But critics say his stance has more to do with the suspended two-year prison sentence he received for vote-rigging which prevented him from becoming prime minister.
A ruling in a separate fraud case involving Dragnea had beem expected on Friday but has been delayed until June 21.
- 'Strange and farcical' -
According to Romanian media, numerous local officials, as well as hospital managers and headteachers, have been urging their employees to join the demonstration.
As well as laying on special trains and buses, the PSD is also handing out instructions to make sure the demonstrations are as effective as possible.
According to a leaked party document, it will ensure one Romanian flag for every 10 participants and a placard for every 40.
Even residents across Bucharest -- not traditionally a PSD stronghold -- have been receiving flyers for the event in the post.
"Come out and say: 'Stop!' to the deep state that wants to control Romania with made-up cases, made-up evidence and fake witnesses," read one flyer.
Centre-right President Klaus Iohannis, who has frequently clashed with the government, called Saturday's demonstration "strange and a bit farcical", adding that it was reminiscent of the communist era.
From busing supporters to Bucharest to mass mailings of party slogans, Romania’s left-wing government is pulling out all the stops for a demonstration on Saturday against the country’s own judiciary.
The ruling Social Democrats (PSD) predict several hundred thousand people will turn out to denounce what they claim is abuse of power on the part of judges.
But critics say the demonstration is part of a campaign by the ruling party to weaken the judiciary and prevent it from acting against pervasive corruption in official institutions.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila is also expected at Saturday’s event, to be centred on Bucharest’s Victory Square, in front of the government’s main offices.
The PSD hopes to match the record number of people that took to the streets last year to denounce planned reforms to the judiciary that opponents — including Brussels — said would have hurt judicial independence.
Among the demonstrators is expected to be PSD chief Liviu Dragnea.
He has led the party’s charge on the judiciary since it returned to power in 2016, accusing it of creating a “parallel state” and painting himself as its victim.
But critics say his stance has more to do with the suspended two-year prison sentence he received for vote-rigging which prevented him from becoming prime minister.
A ruling in a separate fraud case involving Dragnea had beem expected on Friday but has been delayed until June 21.
– ‘Strange and farcical’ –
According to Romanian media, numerous local officials, as well as hospital managers and headteachers, have been urging their employees to join the demonstration.
As well as laying on special trains and buses, the PSD is also handing out instructions to make sure the demonstrations are as effective as possible.
According to a leaked party document, it will ensure one Romanian flag for every 10 participants and a placard for every 40.
Even residents across Bucharest — not traditionally a PSD stronghold — have been receiving flyers for the event in the post.
“Come out and say: ‘Stop!’ to the deep state that wants to control Romania with made-up cases, made-up evidence and fake witnesses,” read one flyer.
Centre-right President Klaus Iohannis, who has frequently clashed with the government, called Saturday’s demonstration “strange and a bit farcical”, adding that it was reminiscent of the communist era.
