Romania: Anti-government protests planned in Bucharest May 12

Event

Anti-government protests are planned for Bucharest on Saturday, May 12. The protest is expected to begin at 18:00 (local time) in Piata Victoriei. Related demonstrations are also expected to take place in Timisoara and Iasi. The rally, organized under the slogan “We want Europe, not dictatorship” has been organized to protest the failures of the ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Liberal-Democrat Alliance (ALDE) to honor its promises made in the electoral campaign. Heightened security measures and consequent transportation disruptions are expected in the vicinity of the protest.

Context

Intermittent protests have occurred against the PSD-ALDE coalition since December 2017. Protests first erupted against reforms that critics claim limit judicial independence. In February 2018, the government ratified an emergency decree allowing certain corruption offenses to be decriminalized. This sparked the biggest protests seen in the country since the fall of communism in 1989 with at least half a million Romanians took to the streets, forcing the government to eventually repeal the ordinance and the justice minister to resign. Related protests have continued on a regular basis since February 2017.

Advice

Individuals in Bucharest are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. Anticipate transportation disruptions near the planned protest.