Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Bucharest in a major display of public anger, protesting against the Romanian government's stringent austerity measures.
A City Centre Brought to a Standstill
On Wednesday, 12th November 2025, a massive crowd converged outside the government headquarters in the capital. The protesters, armed with drums and placards, created a cacophony of dissent before marching towards the iconic Palace of Parliament. Their signs bore poignant messages such as “We want decent salaries!” and “Don’t hit those who save you,” the latter featuring an image of an ambulance worker, highlighting the deep frustration among public servants.
The Roots of the Discontent
The rally was orchestrated by the National Trade Union Bloc, a coalition of dozens of professional federations. Their grievance is directly tied to the government's aggressive pursuit of measures designed to shrink the country's enormous budget deficit, which stood at over 9% in 2024 – one of the highest in the entire 27-nation European Union.
Under an agreement with the EU, Romania is committed to reducing this deficit to 8.4% this year. To achieve this, the governing coalition has implemented a harsh package of austerity measures, including tax increases, a freeze on public sector wages and pensions, and cuts to public spending and administration jobs.
In a powerful statement, the union bloc declared, “Workers are once again being sacrificed for their jobs — even though we work harder, we are getting poorer. The impoverishment of the population has become state policy.”
Political Repercussions and Public Fear
The protest has already prompted a political response, with the ruling parties inviting the union bloc for discussions. Beyond demands for higher pay, protesters are also calling for an end to public sector job cuts and more robust action to combat tax evasion.
This unrest presents a significant challenge for the governing coalition, which was voted in earlier this year with a pledge to make reducing the budget deficit and reforming state institutions its top priority.
Cristian Andrei, a political analyst based in Bucharest, suggested the government faces an uphill battle. He stated that without “fast and decisive reform measures,” closing the economic gap would be fraught with upheaval. “The perception now is that only regular people are struggling, not people (at the) top,” Andrei noted, adding, “There is already a lot of fear from politicians of making more cuts or reforms. Unions are just one voice of this choir.”
