Radio România Internațional

Tag: riot police

March 10, 2025 UPDATE 3

VIOLENCE – Leaders of REPER Party have filed a criminal complaint on Monday for acts of public incitement and outrage in the context of Sunday’s clashes at the Central Election Bureau. The complaint concerns the public statements made by the president of AUR, George Simion, the mercenary Horaţiu Potra and the former independent presidential candidate, the pro-Russian and anti-Western extremist Călin Georgescu. According to REPER leaders, the two incited violence against state authorities, directly resulting in acts of vandalism and aggression against law enforcement in the center of the capital-city. The National Liberal Party (PNL) also firmly condemned and rejected any form of violence in public or private life. Over 500 people were identified in the area of the violent protest on Sunday evening at the headquarters of the Central Election Bureau (BEC), and based on the footage of security forces and public sources, the individuals who committed acts of public violence will to be identified and prosecuted, the Bucharest Riot Police says. As a result of the clashes, 13 riot police officers were injured and taken to hospital, four of whom are receiving treatment. The protesters, supporters of Călin Georgescu, also caused destruction. The violence broke out after BEC rejected Georgescu’s candidacy for the presidential election in May. The Bureau invoked the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the presidential election at the end of last year, stating that Georgescu’s candidacy does not meet the conditions of legality since, by failing to observe the electoral procedure, he violated the very obligation to defend democracy, which is based on fair, honest and impartial suffrage.

DISINFORMATION – The Romanian Riot Police reports that several accounts on TikTok and Facebook are running a disinformation campaign regarding Sunday night’s incidents in central Bucharest. According to the false narratives, the riot police beat women, used rubber bullets and tear gas, brought agitators to cause violence, beat people on the subway and used drones to launch tear gas. All these messages are false, the Riot Police reports, and are intended to manipulate citizens with the aim of provoking other acts of violence.

CHALLENGE – Independent presidential candidate Călin Georgescu announced that he has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court against Sunday’s decision of the Central Election Bureau to reject his candidacy for the presidential election in May. In response to the request, the rector of the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, Remus Pricopie, filed a memorandum calling on the Court to maintain the ruling of rejecting Călin Georgescu’s candidacy, arguing that its registration goes against constitutional provisions. Also on Monday, a complaint against Nicuşor Dan’s candidacy for the presidency was also filed with the Constitutional Court. The Court announced that it will rule on all complaints filed so far on Tuesday. Announcing Călin Georgescu’s intention to refer BEC’s decision to the Constitutional Court was the leader of the opposition party Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), George Simion. The Central Election Bureau does not have the authority to reject a candidacy on the merits, George Simion argued, accusing the institution of committing an abuse. Simion called on Călin Georgescu’s supporters not to resort to violence if they continue to protest against BEC’s decision.

MEDAL – Romanian athlete Andrei Rareș Toader has won gold in the shot-put event at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. With a throw of 21.27 meters, Toader managed to set a new national record. Romania ends the aforementioned competition with two medals, Toader’s gold and the silver medal won by Diana Ana Maria Ion in the triple jump event. Seven Romanian athletes took part in the competition in Apeldoorn. (DB & VP)

10 March 2025
March 10, 2025 UPDATE 2

VIOLENCE – Leaders of REPER Party have filed a criminal complaint on Monday for acts of public incitement and outrage in the context of Sunday’s clashes at the Central Election Bureau. The complaint concerns the public statements made by the president of AUR, George Simion, the mercenary Horaţiu Potra and the former independent presidential candidate, the pro-Russian and anti-Western extremist Călin Georgescu. According to REPER leaders, the two incited violence against state authorities, directly resulting in acts of vandalism and aggression against law enforcement in the center of the Capital. The National Liberal Party (PNL) also firmly condemned and rejected any form of violence in public or private life. Over 500 people were identified in the area of the violent protest on Sunday evening at the headquarters of the Central Election Bureau (BEC), and based on the footage of security forces and public sources, the individuals who committed acts of public violence will to be identified and prosecuted, the Bucharest Riot Police says. As a result of the clashes, 13 riot police officers were injured and taken to hospital, four of whom are receiving treatment. The protesters, supporters of Călin Georgescu, also caused destruction. The violence broke out after BEC rejected Georgescu’s candidacy for the presidential election in May. The Bureau invoked the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the presidential election at the end of last year, stating that Georgescu’s candidacy does not meet the conditions of legality since, by failing to respect the electoral procedure, he violated the very obligation to defend democracy, which is based on fair, honest and impartial suffrage.

DISINFORMATION – The Romanian Riot Police reports that several accounts on TikTok and Facebook are running a disinformation campaign regarding Sunday night’s incidents in central Bucharest. According to the false narratives, the riot police beat women, used rubber bullets and tear gas, brought agitators to cause violence, beat people on the subway and used drones to launch tear gas. All these messages are false, the Riot Police reports, and are intended to manipulate citizens with the aim of provoking other acts of violence.

CHALLENGE – Independent presidential candidate Călin Georgescu announced that he has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court against yesterday’s decision of the Central Election Bureau to reject his candidacy for the presidential election in May. In response to the request, the rector of the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, Remus Pricopie, filed a memorandum calling on the Court to maintain the ruling of rejecting Călin Georgescu’s candidacy, arguing that its registration goes against constitutional provisions. Also on Monday, a complaint against Nicuşor Dan’s candidacy for the Presidency was also filed with the Constitutional Court. The Court announced that it will rule all complaints filed so far tomorrow. Announcing Călin Georgescu’s decision to refer BEC’s decision to the Constitutional Court was the leader of the opposition party Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), George Simion. The Central Election Bureau does not have the authority to reject a candidacy on the merits and accused the institution of committing an abuse. Simion called on Călin Georgescu’s supporters not to resort to violence if they continue to protest against BEC’s decision.

(VP)

10 March 2025
March 10, 2025 UPDATE 1

VIOLENCE – Leaders of REPER Party have filed a criminal complaint on Monday for acts of public incitement and outrage in the context of Sunday’s clashes at the Central Election Bureau. The complaint concerns the public statements made by the president of AUR, George Simion, the mercenary Horaţiu Potra and the former independent presidential candidate, the pro-Russian and anti-Western extremist Călin Georgescu. According to REPER leaders, the two incited violence against state authorities, directly resulting in acts of vandalism and aggression against law enforcement in the center of the Capital. The National Liberal Party (PNL) also firmly condemned and rejected any form of violence in public or private life. Over 500 people were identified in the area of the violent protest on Sunday evening at the headquarters of the Central Election Bureau (BEC), and based on the footage of security forces and public sources, the individuals who committed acts of public violence will to be identified and prosecuted, the Bucharest Riot Police says. As a result of the clashes, 13 riot police officers were injured and taken to hospital, four of whom are receiving treatment. The protesters, supporters of Călin Georgescu, also caused destruction. The violence broke out after BEC rejected Georgescu’s candidacy for the presidential election in May. The Bureau invoked the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the presidential election at the end of last year, stating that Georgescu’s candidacy does not meet the conditions of legality since, by failing to respect the electoral procedure, he violated the very obligation to defend democracy, which is based on fair, honest and impartial suffrage.

DISINFORMATION – The Romanian Riot Police reports that several accounts on TikTok and Facebook are running a disinformation campaign regarding Sunday night’s incidents in central Bucharest. According to the false narratives, the riot police beat women, used rubber bullets and tear gas, brought agitators to cause violence, beat people on the subway and used drones to launch tear gas. All these messages are false, the Riot Police reports, and are intended to manipulate citizens with the aim of provoking other acts of violence. (VP)

10 March 2025
March 10, 2025

CLASHES The leadership of REPER, an opposition party from outside the Romanian Parliament, on Monday submitted a criminal complaint for public incitement and outrage during the events on Sunday at the headquarters of the Central Election Office. The complaint is focusing on the public statements made by the president of AUR (from the ultra-nationalist populist opposition), George Simion, by mercenary Horatiu Potra and the former independent candidate in the presidential election, the pro-Russia, anti-western extremist, Calin Georgescu. Through their messages, the aforementioned people incited to violence against the state authority, which had as result acts of vandalism and aggression against the riot police in downtown Bucharest, REPER says. The National Liberal Party, of the ruling coalition, has also vehemently condemned and rejected any form of violence from the public or private life. Over 500 protesters were asked to produce identity cards following the violent protest on Sunday night before the headquarters of the Central Election Office and police is presently looking for those who got involved in anti-social actions. 13 gendarmes were wounded in the clashes between the protesters and riot police and four of them had to be admitted to hospitals. The protesters, mainly supporters of Calin Georgescu, also resorted to acts of violence shortly after the Election Office, also known as BEC, had rejected Calin Georgescu’s candidacy in the presidential election in May. BEC has motivated its decision upon the Constitutional Court’s ruling in December to cancel the first round of the presidential election won by Calin Georgescu.

FIRES Military firefighters together with teams of forest rangers and voluntaries from the Services for Emergency Situations backed by planes of Romania’s Interior and Defence ministries are fighting to contain wildfires in over 20 localities around the country. Two people have lost their lives so far and others have been wounded and in some regions, the access of intervention teams has been prevented by the rough terrain. Authorities have reminded the citizens that burning dry vegetation is banned under the law and violators will be severely punished. Fines have been applied and criminal files have been opened against arsonists in the past days. Authorities have advised citizens to comply with the environment protection rules and resort to alternative land clearing methods.

MEDAL Romanian athlete Andrei Rares Toader has reaped the gold medal in the shot-putting event at the European Athletics Indoor Championship in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. With a throw of 21 meters and 27 centimeters Toader managed to set a new national record. Romania ends the aforementioned competition with two medals, Toader’s gold and another one of silver won by Diana Ana Maria Ion in the triple jump event. Seven Romanian athletes participated in the European Championships in Apeldoorn.

TAXES Romania’s Finance Ministry has announced it will not change regulations over taxes and duties this year but it does not rule out changes where their application needs improvement. State Secretary Alin Marius Andries says that any such legislation amendment should be made after talks with all the parties interested. The main objective this year is the fiscal consolidation aimed at increasing the partners’ rust, including the international rating agencies and the European Commission, the official went on to say.

(bill)

10 March 2025
Investigations continue into the August 10 protest

Prosecutors announced on Thursday that they identified and detained two of the hooligans who assaulted the riot police during the anti-government protest staged in Bucharest on August 10. Organised by associations of Romanians living abroad and marked by violent clashes between some of the participants and the gendarmes, the protest was eventually suppressed by the gendarmes forceful intervention. Hundreds of people, both protesters and police officers, were injured, and over a hundred thousand protesters, including women and children, were exposed to tear gas.

According to a press release of the prosecutors office attached to the District 1 Tribunal, which is currently investigating criminal allegations of physical and psychological violence against the riot police, on Friday two men were detained for 30 days for assault and disorderly conduct. One of them is accused of having kicked a gendarme, while the other purportedly assaulted another member of the riot police using a piece of metal. Shortly after the protest, prosecutors also managed to identify another man who had stolen a gun off a female gendarme caught at the time in the middle of a melee.

The Social-Democrat Interior Minister Carmen Dan two weeks ago claimed that prosecutors are not taking statements from the people who actually committed the acts of violence, although the Police have identified dozens of aggressors and all the evidence has been submitted to the Prosecutors Office.

On the other hand, the peaceful protesters who fell victim to the brutal intervention of the gendarmes are voicing similar accusations against the left-of-centre ruling coalition. They fear the latter is trying to thwart the investigation conducted by the Military Prosecutors Office. In September, 4 high-ranking leaders of the Romanian Gendarmerie were officially indicted for accessory to abuse of office and abusive conduct. The victims however want to know the identity of the people who hit them with truncheons, trampled them and sprayed tear gas in their faces.

Last week, the violent protest of August 10 and the latest developments in Romania concerning the justice system and the rule of law were debated in the European Parliament, after the Romanian Parliament had made its own analysis of the events. The Chamber of Deputies debated a simple motion filed by the National Liberal Party in Opposition, in which they accused Minister Carmen Dan of having coordinated the violent repression of the protest. Addressing Parliament, Minister Dan expressed confidence that the gendarmes intervention was legitimate, giving assurances that those responsible for the acts of violence will be held accountable. And this is exactly what civil society and local media have been vehemently asking for.

12 October 2018
September 14, 2018 UPDATE

SUMMIT The European Commission
president, Jean-Claude Juncker, will for the first time participate in the
Three Seas Initiative Summit due in Bucharest over Monday and Tuesday, the
European Commission representation in Bucharest announced on Friday. According
to the same sources, president Juncker, who will be accompanied by the European
Commissioner for Regional Development Corina Cretu, is expected to deliver a
speech during the summit. On the sidelines of the meeting, the first edition of
the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum will be taking place under the
patronage of Romanian president Klaus Iohannis. The initiative is an informal
political platform at presidential level, which brings together the 12 EU
members between the Baltic Sea, the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea and is aimed
at developing the economic ties between countries from Central and Southeastern
Europe.

HEARING State Secretary with the Romanian Interior
Ministry, Raed Arafat who is also heading the Department for Emergency
Situation, was heard on Friday at the General Prosecutor’s Office in a file on
the violent events that took place during the anti-government protest on August
10th in Bucharest. State Secretary with the Interior Ministry
Gheorghe Nucu Marin, the head of the Riot Police Special Unit Catalin Paraschiv
and the Subprefect of Bucharest Corneliu Cirstea have also been heard in the
same file. Over 800 complaints from the people who suffered following the riot
police intervention during the protest have been attached to the file.

ASSESSMENT A delegation of
the Venice Commission has ended its meetings in Bucharest with authorities and
representatives of the judiciary aimed at evaluating
the impact of changes brought to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedural
Code. On Thursday, experts from the commission were received by President Klaus
Iohannis, and also met Justice Minister Tudorel Toader as well as
representatives from Parliament, in order to prepare a statement to be adopted
next month in plenary session.

STATISTICS On Friday, the
National Institute for Statistics announced that Romania had 4.1 million pigs
on May 1st, 2018, over 357,000 less than on the same date in 2017.
Since last summer, Romania has been swept by an epidemic of African swine
fever, culling 230,000 pigs as a result. The epidemic has hit 207 localities in
12 counties. European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil
Hogan said that he is working with the authorities to deal with the situation,
considering that 75% of pigs raised in households in the EU are in Romania.

(translated by bill)

14 September 2018
August 13, 2018 UPDATE

PROTESTS – In Romania, military prosecutors called on people who
protested on Friday in Bucharest to come forward if they have been injured or
can provide important information. Dozens of people have filed complaints over
the last two days against the gendarmes after being injured in the protests. Forensic
medical reports have been issued for scores of people, including gendarmes. At
the same time, the two individuals who assaulted a female gendarme and her
colleague have been arrested. As a result of the violence that ensued on Friday
at the protests against the government, around 500 people needed medical care,
and 70 were hospitalized, including 11 gendarmes. The Romania 100 platform filed
a request with the prosecutors with the High Court of Cassation and Justice to
indict Bucharest Prefect Speranta Cliseru and Interior Minister Carmen Dan as a
result of the extreme violence perpetrated on the night of August 10 to 11.

MESSAGE – Romania is undergoing a period of
turbulence due to the violent protests, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday,
referring to last Friday’s violent anti-Government protests. The president said
the violent repression of protests is unacceptable, pointing out that those
responsible must be identified and brought to justice. President Iohannis also
condemned the actions of people who attacked the riot police, stating that no
one is yet being held accountable for the violent acts of August 10, adding
that at least one person should have stepped down by now. Romania is a balanced
and respected country, but the Government is doing everything in its power to
destroy this image, the President went on to say. Polls show that 80% of
Romanians believe Romania is headed in the wrong direction, Klaus Iohannis
argued. In turn, the Social-Democratic Party wrote in a press release that the
President encouraged the anti-Government protests, calling on Klaus Iohannis to
display responsibility and act like a President should, to help consolidate
democratic rights and values and the rule of law.

JUSTICE – European Commissioner for Justice Vera Jourova calls on
the government in Bucharest to reconsider their recent changes in the judicial
system, according to the DPA news agency, quoting an interview by the German
publication Die Welt. The European official said that the new version of the
laws threatens the independence of judges, limits the authority of prosecutors,
and undermines confidence in the judicial system. Commissioner Jourova said it
would be useful for the government in Bucharest to reconsider their plans. DPA
mentions that the judicial reform in Romania has sparked protests. According to
the source, the organizers of these protests claim that the laws favor corrupt
politicians, as they decriminalize abuse in office.

SUMMIT – Romania is ready to organize
the informal summit of EU heads of state and Government on May 9, 2019 in
Sibiu, central Romania, the Foreign Ministry reports. On Monday, Sibiu hosted a
working meeting to prepare next year’s summit as part of Romania’s mandate at
the helm of the European Council. Attending were representatives of the presidency
and local authorities. Devoted to the future of the EU and the upcoming
strategic agenda for the 2019-2024 period, the Summit will bring together 27
heads of state and government of member states, 36 official delegations, 400
high-ranking officials, some 900 journalists and 100 interpreters.

NAVY- The Romanian Naval Forces on August 14 will pay homage to the
heroes and soldiers who made history in the naval battles that helped preserve
the independence and sovereignty of the country, the Defense Ministry reports.
Romanian military will attend a special ceremony at the Sailors’ Monument in
Constanta. Wednesday, August 15, is Navy Day, which will be marked by a big
naval show held in Constanta and Mangalia. 2018 marks 116 years since the
Military Navy was founded.

VISIT – A delegation of the National Guard of the State of Alabama,
led by Major-General Sheryl Gordon, is paying an official visit to Romania over
August 13-16. The American delegation will attend the conference entitled 25
Years of State Partnership Program, organized by the Carol I National
Defense University in Bucharest. The agenda also includes visits to the Mihail
Kogalniceanu airbase, to the military port in Tulcea, and the Constanta
barracks, where they will meet with Chief of General Staff Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca
to attend ceremonies marking Navy Day. Cooperation between the Romanian Army
and the National Guard of the State of Alabama has been ongoing for the past 25
years, as part of the State Partnership Program.

THEATRE – Stage director Silvu Purcarete’s
latest show, The Story of an Ill-reputed Princess, has been selected for the
opening of the Cultural and Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo, the spokesperson of
the Radu Stanca National Theatre in Sibiu has announced. The show is based on
an original script written by Silviu Purcarete, grounded on a kabuki play. It
will premiere in June.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

13 August 2018
August 12, 2018

PROTESTS – Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday
afternoon, for the second running day, in Victory Square in Bucharest, for an
anti-government protest. No incidents were reported. Meanwhile, Romanian
military prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation concerning the
intervention of the riot police during Friday night’s rally. President Klaus
Iohannis accused the Government of being irrational and acting against the
interests of their own citizens. He condemned the violence occurring on the
previous night in Victory Square, and asked the Interior Minister, Carmen Dan,
to take responsibility for how the situation was handled. In response, the
Interior Minister said that what happened was serious and that nobody could
accuse the gendarme service for having enforced the law. Social-Democrat Prime
Minister Viorica Dăncilă requested an immediate and comprehensive report from
the Romanian Intelligence Service regarding the entities that planned and
instigated the violence on Friday night, and regarding the actions of the
public institutions in charge with providing data and intelligence on possible
intentions to highjack the protests. Some 100,000 people gathered on Friday in
front of the Government headquarters in Bucharest, demanding the resignation of
the cabinet and early elections. There were violent clashes between the
protesters and the gendarmes, and riot police used tear gas and water cannons
to disperse the crowds. The gendarmes moved in after some of their colleagues
were attacked. Over 450 people, including 35 gendarmes, received medical
treatment further to the clashes, and 70 people were hospitalized, of whom 11
gendarmes, including a woman who was beaten and had her gun stolen. The police
have arrested 2 people in connection with Friday night’s acts of violence and
have opened 8 criminal cases.

MEASLES – 70 new cases of measles were reported over August 2-9 in
Bucharest and 15 counties across the country. According to the National Center
for Monitoring and Control of Transmissible Disease, 2 years since the epidemic
broke out in Romania, the number of people who got sick now stands at 15,000,
of whom 59 died. Measles can be prevented via vaccination. A quarter of the
people suffering from measles need hospital care, and 1 in 1000 people dies in
Romania to measles, doctors have warned.

ANONIMUL – The Iceland-Denmark coproduction Under the Tree,
directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson, won the 2018 Anonimul Trophy at the 15th
edition of the Anonimul International Independent Film Festival, held in
Sfantul Gheorghe, the Danube Delta. The public also picked the other winners.
Kaveh Mazaheri’s Retouch won the award for best foreign short, while Emanuel
Parvu’s Everything is far away got the award for best Romanian short. The
Ovidiu Bose Pastina award bestowed by the Anonimul Foundation went to Mother,
directed by Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen.

NASA – On Sunday NASA successfully launched the Parker solar probe
into space, which will try to ascertain whether the sun’s corona is hotter than
its surface. The Parker probe will travel into the sun’s atmosphere, closer to
any aircraft before. The spacecraft is fitted to withstand extreme temperatures
and radiation. This will be the first aircraft to fly into the sun’s atmosphere
and will transmit important data back to earth on the origin and evolution of
solar wind. The probe will complete 24 orbits of the sun, travelling at
approximately 700,000 km/h.

GYMNASTICS – Andrei Muntean is the only Romanian who qualified to
the individual finals at the European Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow.
Muntean will compete in Sunday’s still rings final. Aged 25, Muntean won the
Olympic youth title for this event in 2010 in Singapore.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep is today playing
Sloane Stephens of the US, WTA no. 3, in the finals of the Rogers Cup in
Montreal, with total prize money of 2,8 million dollars. On Saturday Halep
ousted Ashleigh Barty of Australia, 16th WTA, in the semi-finals. In
the other semi-final, Sloane Stephens defeated Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, last
year’s winner. Sunday’s game is actually a rematch of the Roland Garos final
earlier this year, won by Halep. This is Simona’s third final at Montreal. She
won the 2016 edition.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

12 August 2018
August 11, 2018 UPDATE

PROTESTS Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday afternoon, for the second running day, in Victoriei Square in Bucharest, for an anti-government protest. Meanwhile, Romanian military prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation concerning the intervention of riot police during Friday nights rally. President Klaus Iohannis accused the Government of being irrational and acting against the interests of their own citizens. He condemned the violence occurring on the previous night in Victoriei Square, and asked the Interior Minister, Carmen Dan, to take responsibility for how the situation was handled. In response, the Interior Minister said that what happened was serious and that nobody could accuse the gendarme service for having enforced the law. PM Viorica Dăncilă requested an immediate and comprehensive report from the Romanian Intelligence Service regarding the entities that planned and instigated the violence on Friday night, and regarding the actions of the public institutions in charge with providing data and intelligence on possible intentions to highjack the protests. Some 100,000 people gathered on Friday in front of the Government headquarters in Bucharest, demanding the resignation of the cabinet and early elections. There were violent clashes between the protesters and the gendarmes, and riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The gendarmes moved in after some of their colleagues were attacked. Over 450 people, including 35 gendarmes, received medical treatment further to the clashes, and 70 people were hospitalised, of which 11 gendarmes, including a woman who was beaten and had her gun stolen. More than 30 protesters were arrested, and 8 criminal cases were opened. Also on Friday, in several cities in the country, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to voice their solidarity with the protest in Bucharest, shouting anti-government slogans.

REACTIONS The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and president of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, said on Saturday that it is unacceptable to have “constitutional order attacked by organised groups, supported by the opposition and the head of state. The vice-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Deputy Andrei Gerea, claims the violent clashes that took place on Friday night are the result of an instigation and misinformation campaign run over the past few days by the opposition and the President of the country. The head of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, urges the President Klaus Iohannis to comply with his constitutional role and to mediate between the various groups within the Romanian society. In Opposition, the leader of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban said the brutal intervention of riot police against peaceful protesters in Victoriei Square was premeditated. Save Romania Union asked for the resignation of the Interior Minister, of the gendarme service chief, and of the Bucharest Prefect, as well as for a parliamentary inquiry and a special government meeting to “clarify the intervention of riot police in the rally. The Peoples Movement Party labels the intervention of riot police as “outrageous, “unjustified, and the gendarmes measures as “unprecedented and out of proportion.

ECHOES – International media covered Fridays protests in Romania and the violence in Victoriei Square. “Hundreds injured in protests as emigrants return to fight corruption, writes The Guardian, while The New York Times notes that “Violence erupts as tens of thousands protest corruption in Romania. Tear gas and water cannons to disperse diaspora rally, France Presse reports, and Radio Free Europe reports that hundreds were injured during clashes between the police and protesters. Associated Press writes that the Romanian diaspora organised a massive anti-governmental protest in Bucharest and mentions that the rally was marred by violence.

FILM The Romanian actress Andra Guţi was awarded at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland the Leopard for best actress for her part in “Alice T. directed by Radu Muntean. “Alice T., a Romanian-French-Swedish co-production, had its world premiere on August 4, as part of the international competition for the Golden Leopard of the Locarno Festival. The award went to “A Land Imagined, directed by Yeo Siew Hua, of Singapore.

TENNIS – The Romanian Simona Halep, number 1 in the world, has qualified into the finals of the WTA tournament in Montreal, which has 2.8 million US dollars in total prize money. On Saturday she defeated the Australian Ashleigh Barty (16 WTA), 6-4, 6-1. Last year, when the tournament took place in Toronto, Halep lost the semi-final to Elina Svitolina. The Romanian won the tournament in 2016, in Montreal, against Madison Keys, after having lost the 2015 final to the Swiss Belinda Bencic.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

11 August 2018
August 11, 2018 UPDATE

PROTESTS Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday afternoon, for the second running day, in Victoriei Square in Bucharest, for an anti-government protest. Meanwhile, Romanian military prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation concerning the intervention of riot police during Friday nights rally. President Klaus Iohannis accused the Government of being irrational and acting against the interests of their own citizens. He condemned the violence occurring on the previous night in Victoriei Square, and asked the Interior Minister, Carmen Dan, to take responsibility for how the situation was handled. In response, the Interior Minister said that what happened was serious and that nobody could accuse the gendarme service for having enforced the law. PM Viorica Dăncilă requested an immediate and comprehensive report from the Romanian Intelligence Service regarding the entities that planned and instigated the violence on Friday night, and regarding the actions of the public institutions in charge with providing data and intelligence on possible intentions to highjack the protests. Some 100,000 people gathered on Friday in front of the Government headquarters in Bucharest, demanding the resignation of the cabinet and early elections. There were violent clashes between the protesters and the gendarmes, and riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The gendarmes moved in after some of their colleagues were attacked. Over 450 people, including 35 gendarmes, received medical treatment further to the clashes, and 70 people were hospitalised, of which 11 gendarmes, including a woman who was beaten and had her gun stolen. More than 30 protesters were arrested, and 8 criminal cases were opened. Also on Friday, in several cities in the country, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to voice their solidarity with the protest in Bucharest, shouting anti-government slogans.

REACTIONS The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and president of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, said on Saturday that it is unacceptable to have “constitutional order attacked by organised groups, supported by the opposition and the head of state. The vice-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Deputy Andrei Gerea, claims the violent clashes that took place on Friday night are the result of an instigation and misinformation campaign run over the past few days by the opposition and the President of the country. The head of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, urges the President Klaus Iohannis to comply with his constitutional role and to mediate between the various groups within the Romanian society. In Opposition, the leader of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban said the brutal intervention of riot police against peaceful protesters in Victoriei Square was premeditated. Save Romania Union asked for the resignation of the Interior Minister, of the gendarme service chief, and of the Bucharest Prefect, as well as for a parliamentary inquiry and a special government meeting to “clarify the intervention of riot police in the rally. The Peoples Movement Party labels the intervention of riot police as “outrageous, “unjustified, and the gendarmes measures as “unprecedented and out of proportion.

ECHOES – International media covered Fridays protests in Romania and the violence in Victoriei Square. “Hundreds injured in protests as emigrants return to fight corruption, writes The Guardian, while The New York Times notes that “Violence erupts as tens of thousands protest corruption in Romania. Tear gas and water cannons to disperse diaspora rally, France Presse reports, and Radio Free Europe reports that hundreds were injured during clashes between the police and protesters. Associated Press writes that the Romanian diaspora organised a massive anti-governmental protest in Bucharest and mentions that the rally was marred by violence.

FILM The Romanian actress Andra Guţi was awarded at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland the Leopard for best actress for her part in “Alice T. directed by Radu Muntean. “Alice T., a Romanian-French-Swedish co-production, had its world premiere on August 4, as part of the international competition for the Golden Leopard of the Locarno Festival. The award went to “A Land Imagined, directed by Yeo Siew Hua, of Singapore.

TENNIS – The Romanian Simona Halep, number 1 in the world, has qualified into the finals of the WTA tournament in Montreal, which has 2.8 million US dollars in total prize money. On Saturday she defeated the Australian Ashleigh Barty (16 WTA), 6-4, 6-1. Last year, when the tournament took place in Toronto, Halep lost the semi-final to Elina Svitolina. The Romanian won the tournament in 2016, in Montreal, against Madison Keys, after having lost the 2015 final to the Swiss Belinda Bencic.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

11 August 2018
August 11, 2018 UPDATE

PROTESTS Thousands of people gathered on Saturday afternoon, for the second running day, in Victoriei Square in Bucharest, for an anti-government protest. Meanwhile, Romanian military prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation concerning the intervention of riot police during Friday nights rally. President Klaus Iohannis accused the Government of being irrational and acting against the interests of their own citizens. He condemned the violence occurring on the previous night in Victoriei Square, and asked the Interior Minister, Carmen Dan, to take responsibility for how the situation was handled. In response, the Interior Minister said that what happened was serious and that nobody could accuse the gendarme service for having enforced the law. PM Viorica Dăncilă requested an immediate and comprehensive report from the Romanian Intelligence Service regarding the entities that planned and instigated the violence on Friday night, and regarding the actions of the public institutions in charge with providing data and intelligence on possible intentions to highjack the protests. Some 100,000 people gathered on Friday in front of the Government headquarters in Bucharest, demanding the resignation of the cabinet and early elections. There were violent clashes between the protesters and the gendarmes, and riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The gendarmes moved in after some of their colleagues were attacked. Over 450 people, including 35 gendarmes, received medical treatment further to the clashes, and 70 people were hospitalised, of which 11 gendarmes, including a woman who was beaten and had her gun stolen. More than 30 protesters were arrested, and 8 criminal cases were opened. Also on Friday, in several cities in the country, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to voice their solidarity with the protest in Bucharest, shouting anti-government slogans.

REACTIONS The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and president of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, said on Saturday that it is unacceptable to have “constitutional order attacked by organised groups, supported by the opposition and the head of state. The vice-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Deputy Andrei Gerea, claims the violent clashes that took place on Friday night are the result of an instigation and misinformation campaign run over the past few days by the opposition and the President of the country. The head of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, urges the President Klaus Iohannis to comply with his constitutional role and to mediate between the various groups within the Romanian society. In Opposition, the leader of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban said the brutal intervention of riot police against peaceful protesters in Victoriei Square was premeditated. Save Romania Union asked for the resignation of the Interior Minister, of the gendarme service chief, and of the Bucharest Prefect, as well as for a parliamentary inquiry and a special government meeting to “clarify the intervention of riot police in the rally. The Peoples Movement Party labels the intervention of riot police as “outrageous, “unjustified, and the gendarmes measures as “unprecedented and out of proportion.

ECHOES – International media covered Fridays protests in Romania and the violence in Victoriei Square. “Hundreds injured in protests as emigrants return to fight corruption, writes The Guardian, while The New York Times notes that “Violence erupts as tens of thousands protest corruption in Romania. Tear gas and water cannons to disperse diaspora rally, France Presse reports, and Radio Free Europe reports that hundreds were injured during clashes between the police and protesters. Associated Press writes that the Romanian diaspora organised a massive anti-governmental protest in Bucharest and mentions that the rally was marred by violence.

FESTIVAL – The 8th Summer Well alternative music festival continues until Sunday in Buftea, near Bucharest. This year as well popular names in the international music scene are taking part, including the British indie rock band Bastille, the Irish alternative rock outfit Kodaline, for the first time in Romania, and the American jungle pop duo Sofi Tukker. The line-up also includes Lantern Company, from Liverpool, who brought to Bucharest illuminated installations in a breath-taking performance.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

11 August 2018
August 11, 2018

PROTESTS President Klaus Iohannis Saturday asked the Prosecutor General of Romania Augustin Lazăr to immediately initiate investigations into the intervention of riot police at Friday nights protests in Victoriei Square in Bucharest, the Presidency announced in a news release. The head of state requested the Prosecutor General to identify the participants in the violent clashes in the Romanian capital city and their involvement and responsibility for the events. On Friday President Klaus Iohannis had firmly condemned the brutal police intervention against the protesters in Victoriei Square and said the Interior Minister, Carmen Dan, must immediately present explanations for how the ministry handled the events. Over 450 people, including 35 gendarmes, received medical treatment further to the clashes on Friday night at the rally in Victoriei Square, a gendarme spokesperson told a press conference on Saturday. According to him, riot police had orders from the Prefect of Bucharest to take tough action in Victoriei Square on Friday night. The gendarme spokesman added that 8 criminal cases have been initiated so far. Some 100,000 people gathered on Friday in front of the Government headquarters in Bucharest, at a rally of Romanian expats, joined by many locals. Also on Friday, in several cities in the country, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to voice their solidarity with the protest of diaspora members, shouting anti-government slogans. The protesters, disgruntled with the current government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, demanded the resignation of the cabinet and early elections. There were clashes between the protesters and the gendarmes, and riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Police reported the presence of groups of provocateurs in front of the Government headquarters. The gendarmes moved in after some of their colleagues were attacked.

REACTIONS Save Romania Union, in opposition, demands the resignation of the Interior Minister, of the Gendarme Service chief, of the Bucharest Prefect, a parliamentary inquiry and a special government meeting to clarify the gendarme intervention during Fridays protests of Romanian expats, the party president Dan Barna announced on Saturday. Also in opposition, the Peoples Movement Party labels the intervention of riot police as “outrageous, “unjustified, and the gendarmes measures as “unprecedented and out of proportion. Codrin Ştefănescu, the secretary general of the Social Democratic Party in power, said on Saturday that President Klaus Iohannis and the leaders of the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union and Peoples Movement Party in opposition should present public apologies for how their statements encouraged violence. The vice-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, Deputy Andrei Gerea, claims the violent clashes that took place on Friday night in front of the Government headquarters are the result of an instigation and misinformation campaign run over the past few days by the opposition and the President of the country.

ECHOES International media covered Fridays protests in Romania and the violence in Victoriei Square. “Hundreds injured in protests as emigrants return to fight corruption, writes The Guardian, while The New York Times notes that “Violence erupts as tens of thousands protest corruption in Romania. Tear gas and water cannons to disperse diaspora rally, France Presse reports, and Radio Free Europe reports that hundreds were injured during clashes between the police and protesters. Associated Press writes that the Romanian diaspora organised a massive anti-governmental protest in Bucharest and mentions that the rally was marred by violence.

FESTIVAL The 8th Summer Well alternative music festival continues until Sunday in Buftea, near Bucharest. This year as well popular names in the international music scene are taking part, including the British indie rock band Bastille, the Irish alternative rock outfit, for the first time in Romania, and the American jungle pop duo Sofi Tukker. The line-up also includes Lantern Company, from Liverpool, who brought to Bucharest illuminated installations in a breath-taking performance.

TENNIS The Romanian Simona Halep, number 1 in the world, is playing today against the Australian Ashleigh Barty (16 WTA), in the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Montreal, which has 2.8 million US dollars in total prize money. On Friday in the quarterfinals Halep defeated the French Caroline Garcia (6 WTA), while Barty outplayed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands (18 WTA). Simona Halep is playing the Rogers Cup semis for the 4th consecutive time. Last year, when the tournament took place in Toronto, Halep lost the semi-final to Elina Svitolina. The Romanian won the tournament in 2016, in Montreal, against Madison Keys, after having lost the 2015 final to the Swiss Belinda Bencic.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

11 August 2018
February 2, 2017

EMERGENCY ORDINANCE — Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis today announced he has notified the Constitutional Court regarding the Government’s emergency ordinance modifying criminal legislation, which creates a legal conflict between the Government, Parliament and the judiciary, thus breaching the Constitution, the president has argued. Klaus Iohannis has also criticized the Interior Ministry for the way it handled last night’s protest, when an isolated group of people resorted to violence. The President claims the Ministry and the riot police had been duly informed regarding the risk of such incidents aimed at compromising the protest. In turn, Interior Minister Carmen Dan said she received no information regarding any intention to instigate violence in last night’s protest. We recall that unprecedented protests were staged in Bucharest and many other cities across the country against the Government’s decision to modify the criminal codes by emergency ordinance. Protesters called on the Government to withdraw the ordinance and step down. Romanians in the Diaspora also protested the Government’s decision. Florin Jianu, Minister for the Business Sector, has stepped down.

DEBATE ON THE PROTESTS — The recent street protests staged in the wake of the Government’s ordinance modifying the criminal legislation were the subject of a heated debate in the European Parliament today. Romanian MEPs, members of the European People’s Party called for withdrawing the ordinance, while the representatives of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and the Social-Democratic Party, claimed the protesters were trying to overthrow a legitimate Government. The European Commission has called on the Romanian Government to re-evaluate the ordinance. In turn, the Embassies of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the United States in Bucharest have expressed their deep concern regarding the Government’s actions, which they see as undermining Romania’s progress regarding the rule of law and the fight against corruption in the last ten years.

REACTION — The Pro Democratia Association, one of the oldest and most respected NGOs in Romania, has expressed concern with respect to the rapid and serious degradation of democracy in Romania, also in connection with the concerted attack of political forces on the fundamental principles of the rule of law and human rights. The systematic campaign against democracy saw its apex with the adoption of a controversial Government emergency ordinance modifying the criminal and criminal procedure codes, which seems to be preventing certain political leaders and their election and financial contributors from facing criminal justice. The Association calls on those responsible to stop all attacks on institutions, organizations and the principles of the rule of law and human rights and the immediate and unrestricted withdrawal of the emergency ordinance criticized by the general public.

BUDGET FOR 2017 — Romanian MPs can file amendments to the draft laws on the state and social security budgets for 2017, before the report of the Budget and Finance committees can elaborate a final report on the two bills this coming weekend. On Monday, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will debate the two laws, and a final vote is scheduled for Tuesday. The draft budget for 2017 is based on an economic growth of 5.2%, and a budget deficit below 3% of the GDP. The Government estimates an inflation rate of 1.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. According to Finance Minister, Viorel Stefan, investment, healthcare, education and infrastructure will be given special importance over the coming period.

TENNIS — The best-rated Romanian tennis player, Simona Halep, WTA no. 4, has qualified to the quarterfinals of the Sankt Petersburg tournament in Russia, totalling over 700,000 dollars in prize money. On Friday, Halep will play Natalia Vikhlyantseva of Russia, who in the second round ousted her better-seeded co-national, Daria Kasatkina. Halep is the tournament’s no. 1 seed. In the women’s doubles, Irina Begu and Monica Niculescu will take on Daria Gavrilova of Australia and Kristina Mladenovic of France. (Translated by V. Palcu)

2 February 2017