2012–14 unrest in Romania

2012–15 unrest in Romania
Clockwise, from top: Protest against the Roșia Montană Project in Bucharest, demonstration against president Traian Băsescu in January 2012, protester holding a message against prime minister Victor Ponta, mass gathering in University Square against Băsescu, placards depicting messages against Ponta and Antena 3
Date	12 January 2012–4 November 2015 (3 years, 9 months and 23 days)
Location	Dozens of cities in Romania and Romanian diaspora
Causes	High rate of unemployment Tax hikes Low standard of living Political corruption Shale drilling Roșia Montană Project Illegal felling of forests Underfunding of education and health Amendments to the Penal Code Alleged involvement of politicians in justice Parliamentary immunity Irregularities concerning the 2014 presidential election Colectiv nightclub fire
Methods	Civil disobedience Demonstration Picketing Sit-in Rioting Roadblock Hunger strike Labor strike General strike Human chain Occupation Revolt Suicide Self-immolation Online activism
Result	Resignation of second Boc cabinet Resignation of Ungureanu cabinet 2012 Romanian constitutional crisis Suspension of President Traian Băsescu Collapse of Social Liberal Union Institutional conflict between the Government and the Presidency Rejection of the Roșia Montană Project Four reshuffles of Victor Ponta government 2015 Romanian political crisis Resignation of Prime Minister Victor Ponta
Parties to the civil conflict
Christian Liberal Alliance PMP–PNȚCD Alliance Anti-government protesters Trade unions (SANITAS, Cartel ALFA, FSLI, FSPC, FNSA) Students Teachers Doctors Postmen Environmentalists Pilots Miners Policemen Unionist movements (Acțiunea 2012) Supporters of the autonomy of Székely Land President of Romania Government of Romania PSD–UNPR–PC Alliance Romanian Police Romanian Gendarmerie Pro-government protesters
Lead figures
Emil Boc (PM, 2008–12) Crin Antonescu (PNL) Klaus Iohannis (PNL) Vasile Blaga (PNL) Alina Gorghiu (PNL) Elena Udrea (PMP) Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu (PM, 2012) Traian Băsescu Victor Ponta (PM, 2012–present) Liviu Dragnea (PSD) Gabriel Oprea (UNPR) Daniel Constantin (PC) Dan Voiculescu Petre Tobă (Chief of the Romanian Police) Mircea Olaru (Chief of the Romanian Gendarmerie)

External media

Images
Romania Protests 2012 on Flickr
Romanian protests: In pictures on BBC
GALERIE FOTO – Imagini din a treia zi de proteste în București on Mediafax
Video
Molotov cocktails vs tear gas: New wave of Romania violence on YouTube
Romania clashes video: Anti-cuts protests turn violent in Bucharest on YouTube
'We want him out': Anger burning in Romania on YouTube

Christian Liberal Alliance
PMP–PNȚCD Alliance

Unionist movements (Acțiunea 2012)

Government of Romania
PSD–UNPR–PC Alliance
Romanian Police
Romanian Gendarmerie

Emil Boc (PM, 2008–12)
Crin Antonescu (PNL)
Klaus Iohannis (PNL)

The 2012–15 unrest in Romania refers to a prolonged period of civil unrest and political scandals in Romania, which took magnitude after the second half of the 2000s. The wave of civil demonstrations started in January 2012, once with the introduction of a new health reform legislation. The protests were fueled by the austerity measures applied in May 2010, but also by the unpopularity of Băsescu-backed Boc government. The demonstrations were characterized by widespread rioting and acts of vandalism. The political situation precipitated, so Prime Minister Emil Boc decided to step down on 6 February 2012.

In the first six months of the year, three governments have been changed. The summer of 2012 was marked by a large-scale political crisis, fed by accusations of plagiarism to PSD-backed Prime Minister Victor Ponta and culminating with the suspension of President Traian Băsescu. Although the presidential impeachment referendum showed that over 80% of the voters wanted his dismissal, the referendum was invalidated by the Constitutional Court due to presence below 50% at polls. During this period, Romania was warned by Western powers about the state of democracy, inasmuch as the dismissal of the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies was made in a shady manner, and prominent figures of PSD, including Vice-President Liviu Dragnea, were accused of vote rigging in the referendum.