18 Dec 2024 | 10:15 AM UTC
Romania: Opposition activists call for protests in Bucharest Dec. 21-22
Opposition activists call for major demonstrations across Bucharest, Romania, Dec. 21-22. Disruptions likely.
Activists from Romania's political opposition call for protests across Bucharest Dec. 21-22. Organizers have called for participants to protest near the headquarters of Romania's major political parties, PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR, in Bucharest. The purpose of the action is to denounce Romania's Constitutional Court's decision to extend the mandate of President Klaus Iohannis indefinitely. Participation is unclear, but given current political tensions, turnout could be considerable.
Authorities will likely deploy additional security personnel across central Bucharest as a precaution, which will likely result in localized disruptions. Limited confrontations between participants and law enforcement officers are possible Dec. 21-22.
Romania's Constitutional Court decided to extend the mandate of Romania's current president Iohannis following weeks of political turmoil in Bucharest caused by allegations of foreign interference in Romania's presidential elections. The elections were to be held in two turns, on Nov. 24 and Dec. 8; however, following the first round of election Nov. 24, Romanian security services declassified evidence suggesting significant foreign interference in the election process. Security services continue to investigate the impact of Chinese-owned media company Tik-Tok in the election campaign, and the funding received by one of the two main candidates in the presidential election.
Since Dec. 17, EU authorities launched formal proceedings against TikTok due to evidence of potential violation of EU laws in regards to digital services and political advertisments in the platform.
