site.btaRomanian Prime Minister Ciolacu Slams Thursday's Anti-vaccine Protest in Bucharest

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu described as "disgusting hypocrisy" the action of the leader of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, George Simion, to bring people out to the streets to protest against vaccines. 

Ciolacu's remarks came in response to Thursday's protest in Bucharest, during which AUR members and supporters tried to storm the building of the Ministry of Health. One of the demonstrators climbed onto the railing of the balcony on the first floor of the building and another attacked a journalist who was reporting from the scene.

Tensions were caused by Health Minister Alexandru Rafila's refusal to receive a delegation of protesters, as well as by a new bill which, according to the protesters, provides for compulsory vaccination.

"It is cynical, I would say disgusting hypocrisy, to lie and scare people just to win votes. Vaccination in Romania has never been and will never be compulsory. I completely understand the fears of Romanians after everything that happened during the COVID pandemic. But we are talking here about some vaccines that we - our parents, grandparents - have all had for decades in Romania.

These are vaccines against extremely serious diseases. The national vaccination strategy proposed for debate by the Ministry of Health is about accurate information and the obligation of the Romanian State for all Romanians to have fair access to the vaccine, especially those from vulnerable groups. That and nothing more. I repeat, to make it very clear: No one will be vaccinated by force," said Marcel Ciolacu at the start of Friday's government meeting.

In the meantime, a criminal case was opened into the incident and six fines of 9,700 lei were imposed for irregularities during the protest, according to a press release issued by the Bucharest Gendarmerie.