Hundreds of Romanians rallied in Bucharest for 12 days in a row, to protest against austerity measures, calling on president Traian Basescu and prime minister Emil Boc to quit.

The protests started on January 13, because of a planned health-care reform, which was withdrawn by the president after few days of protests, and also because a palestinian-born doctor, Raed Arafat, the founder of Romania's emergency medical services was forced to resign earlier last week after a row with president Basescu over the controversial health reform draft. But people continued to gather every night in University Square of Bucharest, shouting against all political class and asking for a better life.

The protesters had been mobilized mostly via the internet and social networks to gather in downtown Bucharest.











Shortly, the Opposition organized a rally attended by 10.000 people in in central Bucharest, on January 19.

On tuesday, January 24, the unions organized another rally, also attended by 10.000 people.





Until now, the protests were peaceful, except for some minor clashes of anarchists with the Gendarmerie.


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