Austerity demonstrations
January 16, 2012
Romania's government called an emergency meeting on Sunday in response to nationwide anti-austerity protests, which have continued for a fourth day despite President Traian Basescu's decision to scrap a controversial health care law that originally triggered the unrest.
In the capital, Bucharest, more than 1,000 protesters gathered in the city center, some of whom threw rocks at riot police. In turn, the police deployed tear gas and flares against the demonstrators. At least 13 people were injured in the violence, according to the Associated Press.
On Saturday, riot police estimated up to 4,000 protesters had gathered in 20 cities nationwide.
The unrest began on Thursday, when the popular Deputy Health Minister, Raed Arafat, resigned after criticizing an unpopular bill that would have brought private firms into the public health care sector.
Austerity and corruption
Although President Traian Basescu withdrew the bill on Friday, the protests escalated over the weekend. In response, Interior Minister Traian Igas called the emergency meeting aimed at stemming the crisis.
The government has also implemented painful austerity measures, which raised value added tax and cut state wages, as part of a two-year aid deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Protesters have expressed anger over the austerity measures as well as state cronyism and widespread corruption, calling for the resignation of Basescu and Prime Minister Emil Boc, who leads a coalition government. Boc, meanwhile, has called for dialogue.
Author: Spencer Kimball (Reuters, AP, AFP)
Editor: Nicole Goebel