Thousands of Romanians keep calling for government resignation

Protesters light up blue pieces of paper and pieces of yellow star-shaped fabric to form the European Union (EU)’s flag in a rally in Bucharest, Romania, February 26, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Thousands of people have rallied in the Romanian capital Bucharest on the 27th day of protests against the government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu.

About 5,000 protesters gathered outside government headquarters on Sunday evening, chanting “Resignation,” demanding that the government step down.

They also formed the European Union’s flag with sheets of blue and yellow paper and cloth above their heads and chanted “Europe.”

Police closed roads leading to the square to prevent more people from joining the rally.

This was the 27th consecutive evening that Romanians kept taking to the streets since the government approved an emergency decree that would have decriminalized certain graft offenses.

Protesters rally in Bucharest, Romania, February 26, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

While the decision has been scrapped, people have continued to rally and updated their demand for the withdrawal of the proposal to one for the resignation of the government. Demonstrators say they have no more trust in Grindeanu’s government.

The government has so far resisted calls to step down.

Romania is among the EU’s most corrupt countries, whose justice system is under special monitoring by Brussels, according to Transparency International.