Romanians in Malta hold protest over Bucharest decree

Romanians resident in Malta held an anti-corruption protest outside their country's consulate in Valletta today, even as the Romanian government scrapped a decree that would have shielded dozens of politicians from prosecution for corruption. The government rolled back its plans after the biggest protests since the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. The Romanians who live in Malta carried the Romanian flag and placards against the head of the ruling Social Democrats (PSD) Liviu Dragnea, who is undergoing trial. Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said the decree - which decriminalised several graft offences in what the government said was a bid to relive pressure on the prison system - was being repealed today, just five days after is was approved by the cabinet. It would have come into force at the end of next week. "I do not want to divide Romania. Romania can't be split into two. Right now Romania seems broken in two. My last desire is to witness this," Grindeanu said, referring to the public disgust at the decree which brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets every day since it was passed. While he made the announcement live on television, some of the...