Most ample protests against president so far take place over the week-end in Romania. Demonstrations turn to violence

Approximately 2,000 people went out in the street in Unirii and Universitate Square this week-end, asking for the resignation of the president Traian Basescu and the current government led by prime-minister Emil Boc.

Smaller movements also took part in other cities such as Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi or Suceava.

The demonstrations in Bucharest started peacefully but turned violent and in total, 59 people, from both sides- protesters and gendarmes- needed medical assistance. Additionally, several bus stations, news stands and bank windows were destroyed by the violent movement.

Soccer hooligans, who kept their faces covered by scarves in order not to be identified, joined the peaceful protesters, and started to throw rocks, Molotov cocktails against the gendarmes.

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The protests were rooted in the health reform law that the president and the current government, led by Prime Minister Emil Boc, were in the process of promoting, as well as the clash of opinions between the president and Raed Arafat, founder of the Mobile Emergency and Intensive Therapy Service, over the impact of the law on the emergency services. Read more on this issue here.

Even though Arafat urged the population not to take to the streets in order ”not to let themselves be politically manipulated,” the protesters started the demonstrations. They were also sparked by an intervention of the president on Friday evening when Basescu asked for the withdrawal of the health law because, he said, ”the people is not ready for reform.”

However, protesters were shouting also against other unpopular measures such as the cut in salaries, the car tax, or the Rosia Montana project.

The protests were also reported by the international press.

Otilia Haraga