Thousands Protest against Austerity Measures in Front of Romanian Government Building in Bucharest

BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva, Metodi Yordanov

BTA Photo/Ilko Valkov

Bucharest,

28.04.2026 14:25

(BTA)

A national protest rally is currently taking place in front of the Romanian government building on Victory Square in Bucharest. The demonstration is organized by the National Trade Union Confederation MERIDIAN and has drawn more than 1,000 participants from across the country.

Those attending include military personnel, police officers, forestry workers, railway employees, staff from the national airline TAROM, healthcare workers, miners, teachers, students, and representatives of various professional federations and organizations.

After listening to Romania’s national anthem, protesters filled the space in front of the government building with vuvuzelas, whistles, and drums, chanting “Resignation.” Some carried banners reading “Your austerity – our poverty” and “United we are strong – solidarity.” The demonstrators expressed dissatisfaction with the strict austerity measures adopted by the government of Ilie Bolojan, which they say were implemented without genuine social dialogue.

According to the protesters, these decisions have failed to deliver the expected results and have negatively affected living standards, job security, and workers’ rights regarding wages, pensions, and social protection.

Trade union representatives argue that the measures, introduced in the name of balancing the budget, run counter to citizens’ interests and European principles.

“With today’s rally, we want to say stop to irregularities, stop to anti-national governments. We want a constitutional government that ensures a good life for citizens, not one that plays with them. It should invest in industry and not comply with foreign interests. That is why we are here,” the organizers said.

The protest coincides with World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28 and comes on the eve of International Workers' Day.

The coalition government led by Ilie Bolojan has introduced a series of reforms aimed at increasing revenues and reducing expenditures in an effort to curb an excessive budget deficit, which reached 9.3% of GDP last year. The austerity measures have sparked a wave of protests across various sectors and have led to fractures within the ruling coalition.

/KK/