TFIPOST हिन्दी
TFIPOST Global
Tfipost.com
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India

    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India: Global Investment Expert Manu Seth Shares Insights

    Decomposed Body of Pakistani Actress Humaira Asghar Found in Karachi Flat

    Decomposed Body of Pakistani Actress Humaira Asghar Found in Karachi Flat After Weeks

    Foreign Investment, Innovation, and Confidence Are Making India a Global Leader: Investment Advisor Manu Seth

    Foreign Investment, Innovation, and Confidence Are Making India a Global Leader: Investment Advisor Manu Seth

    Nimisha Priya set to be executed on July 16 in Yemen

    Indian Nurse Faces Execution in Yemen on July 16; Is There Still Hope for Nimisha Priya?

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India

    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India: Global Investment Expert Manu Seth Shares Insights

    Simple Legal Steps to Protect Your Brand in India

    Simple Legal Steps to Protect Your Brand in India

    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Appointed Treasurer of Elon Musk’s 'America Party'

    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Selected Treasurer of Elon Musk’s ‘America Party’

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion, Close to All-Time Record

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    Decoy That Changed the Game: How India's AI-Powered X-Guard Neutralised Pakistani Air Threats

    Rafale Decoy Confused Pakistan Jets During Operation Sindoor, Claims US Veteran Pilot

    India Successfully Tests Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rocket ERASR

    India Successfully Tests Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rocket ERASR, Boosting Navy’s Underwater Capabilities

    Gun-Making Racket Exposed in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Gun-Making Factory Busted in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    Amid Ongoing Tensions, Security Operation Yields Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    We Share Borders With Tibet, Not China”: Khandu’s Sharp Reply

    Khandu’s Bold Message to China: Arunachal Belongs to India, Border Was With Tibet

    Pakistan on edge as coup rumors spark fear of military takeover

    Coup Season in Pakistan? Munir Plots Move as Zardari Trembles, Sharif Watches Helplessly

    26 Global Awards and Counting: Modi Receives Brazil’s Civilian Honour

    PM Modi Honoured with Brazil’s Top Civilian Award, 26th Global Recognition

    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years

    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years to Boost Mineral, Energy, and Digital Ties

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Suspends Senior Official for Attending Church Services

    Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Suspends Senior Official for Attending Church Services

    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra

    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra 

    Kanwar Yatra: UP Gears Up With Full-Scale Arrangements

    Kanwar Yatra: Four Devotional Paths, One Divine Destination

    char dham yatra suspended due to bad weather

    Uttarakhand Suspends Char Dham Yatra Due to Adverse Weather, Prioritizes Pilgrim Safety

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    Try These 6 High-Protein Vrat-Friendly Foods to Stay Energised

    Fasting This Sawan 2025? Try These 6 High-Protein Vrat-Friendly Foods to Stay Energised

    say no to alcohol for 6 months

    How Quitting Alcohol for 6 Months Can Transform Your Health

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    India's Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    India’s Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
Tfipost.com
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India

    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India: Global Investment Expert Manu Seth Shares Insights

    Decomposed Body of Pakistani Actress Humaira Asghar Found in Karachi Flat

    Decomposed Body of Pakistani Actress Humaira Asghar Found in Karachi Flat After Weeks

    Foreign Investment, Innovation, and Confidence Are Making India a Global Leader: Investment Advisor Manu Seth

    Foreign Investment, Innovation, and Confidence Are Making India a Global Leader: Investment Advisor Manu Seth

    Nimisha Priya set to be executed on July 16 in Yemen

    Indian Nurse Faces Execution in Yemen on July 16; Is There Still Hope for Nimisha Priya?

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India

    Opportunities for Youth in a Changing India: Global Investment Expert Manu Seth Shares Insights

    Simple Legal Steps to Protect Your Brand in India

    Simple Legal Steps to Protect Your Brand in India

    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Appointed Treasurer of Elon Musk’s 'America Party'

    Indian-Origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja Selected Treasurer of Elon Musk’s ‘America Party’

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion

    India’s Forex Reserves Surge Past $700 Billion, Close to All-Time Record

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    Decoy That Changed the Game: How India's AI-Powered X-Guard Neutralised Pakistani Air Threats

    Rafale Decoy Confused Pakistan Jets During Operation Sindoor, Claims US Veteran Pilot

    India Successfully Tests Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rocket ERASR

    India Successfully Tests Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rocket ERASR, Boosting Navy’s Underwater Capabilities

    Gun-Making Racket Exposed in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Gun-Making Factory Busted in Aligarh: UP STF Arrests 3

    Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    Amid Ongoing Tensions, Security Operation Yields Major Arms Seizure in Manipur Hill Districts

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    We Share Borders With Tibet, Not China”: Khandu’s Sharp Reply

    Khandu’s Bold Message to China: Arunachal Belongs to India, Border Was With Tibet

    Pakistan on edge as coup rumors spark fear of military takeover

    Coup Season in Pakistan? Munir Plots Move as Zardari Trembles, Sharif Watches Helplessly

    26 Global Awards and Counting: Modi Receives Brazil’s Civilian Honour

    PM Modi Honoured with Brazil’s Top Civilian Award, 26th Global Recognition

    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years

    Five-Nation Tour: Modi to Visit Namibia, First Indian PM in 30 Years to Boost Mineral, Energy, and Digital Ties

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Suspends Senior Official for Attending Church Services

    Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Suspends Senior Official for Attending Church Services

    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra

    The Beginning of Devotion: History of the First Kanwar Yatra 

    Kanwar Yatra: UP Gears Up With Full-Scale Arrangements

    Kanwar Yatra: Four Devotional Paths, One Divine Destination

    char dham yatra suspended due to bad weather

    Uttarakhand Suspends Char Dham Yatra Due to Adverse Weather, Prioritizes Pilgrim Safety

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    Try These 6 High-Protein Vrat-Friendly Foods to Stay Energised

    Fasting This Sawan 2025? Try These 6 High-Protein Vrat-Friendly Foods to Stay Energised

    say no to alcohol for 6 months

    How Quitting Alcohol for 6 Months Can Transform Your Health

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    Mental Wellness Rituals to Stay Calm, Focused, and Balanced

    India's Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    India’s Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed Amid Political Unrest

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
No Result
View All Result
Tfipost.com
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Defense
  • Geopolitics
  • Knowledge
  • Law
  • Lounge

People of Romania are protesting against their government and the world needs to know about it

Kunal Sangwan by Kunal Sangwan
22 February 2017
in Geopolitics
romania corruption

Image Courtesy: The Washington Post

Share on FacebookShare on X

Almost a month after they started, protests against the incumbent government in Romania refuse to die down and Bucharest remains under the shroud of the biggest public demonstrations in the nation since the fall of communism and infamous dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.

The tumultuous period began back in January, when the newly-elected PSD (Social Democratic Party) government proposed to pass a decree that would amend the penal code, with two particular clauses of interest.

RelatedPosts

Red Hands Behind Every National Wound; Treasonous History of Communism in India

Tracing the Anti-India Legacy of India’s Communist Movement

Leading candidate in Presidential Election arrested: Romanian showdown stamps Meloni’s criticism of global Left

Load More

The first stipulated that all those serving prison sentences of under five years be released unconditionally, which the government justified by arguing for prevention of overcrowding in Romanian prisons in order to stick within European human rights norms.

Aside from the absurd aversion of justice this amendment would bring about, it also irked the population owing to the fact that many PSD members are currently convicted on corruption charges and that the decree would benefit most, if not all, of them.

The second would automatically grant pardon to all those accused of corruption or convicted for the same if the amount of money involved was less than €45,000.

The peculiar slab would decriminalise a certain offence and protect hordes of PSD donors and supporters, although one man would be the biggest beneficiary of all – Liviu Dragnea, the PSD’s leader.

In May of 2015, Dragnea was convicted of electoral fraud and handed a one year suspended sentence, which was later doubled, inspite of which he came to be elected as the head of PSD only five months later in October, another ode to the institution’s corrupt nature. But Dragnea is currently on trial for defrauding the state of €24,000, which, along with his sentence, legally barred him from taking power as Prime Minister once the PSD came out victorious in last month’s elections.

The proposed bill’s specifics were released to the public and immediately came under intense scrutiny from the Romanian Supreme Court and media outlets, leading to a quick response from the population.

Protests broke out on the 18th and swelled up on weekends, peaking out on the 29th, when the number of protestors came to exceed 300,000 and thus became the largest demonstration in Romanian history.

But Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu’s government remained firm on its resolution and the decree went through, releasing a wave of outrage.

The manner in which the decree was passed didn’t help the situation either, for the government chose to circumvent transparency and instead approved the decree under the garb of an emergency ordinance, effectively taking away the right of parliament to vote upon it and that too during midnight.

Despite this, almost 20,000 emerged out their homes and marched toward the PM’s headquarters and Bucharest came to a halt yet again on the next day.

Throughout Europe, citizens of Romanian descent and expats too staged peaceful demonstrations, while thousands flew back to their homeland in order to join the protests, clogging Romanian air traffic.

The influx of protestors meant that the total number beefed up to 600,000 on the 5th of February, double that of the previous week, thus forcing Grindeanu’s cabinet to repeal the ordinance. Still, the demonstrations remain active despite the retraction, for the aim has now become to get rid of the PSD government itself.

The public’s willingness to brave sub-zero temperatures and protest for weeks in a row is a reflection of their discontent with government corruption that’s been rampant for decades and to a point where the role of corruption today in Romanian society is such that even menial tasks of day-to-day life can’t be carried out without bribery or the like.

Foreign embassies located in the nation’s capital have long been fervent critics of most government policies and the constant stream of criticism has become a source of embarrassment for Romanian diplomats and society at large.

They, along with the EU, which Romania joined in 2007, issued a stern warning and said that had the amendments to the penal code remained intact in the long term, they would’ve been detrimental to Romania’s long drawn battle against corruption that’s been active since the early 2000’s, any harm to which must be prevented in the future, fuelling the ongoing protests further.

Romania witnessed booming economic growth in the early parts of this century and fought an anti-corruption battle lauded throughout the world and heralded by diplomats as a role model for nations in a similar predicament.

Maintaining growth remained on top of the agenda for all those running for office, but some measures adopted for the goal proved to be harmful for the populace. Such was the decision in 2010 to enforce austerity measures, which was in order to make up for slowing growth in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis, but resulted in living standards for the lowest strata of Romanian society taking a further dip and the level of poverty rising to 30% – the highest in the European Union.

Global recession too affected the Romanian economy and proved tough to handle, resulting in a period reminiscent of post-communism times with high wage cuts and mass unemployment.

The public’s almost instantaneous action against the recent ordinance was, in part, due to their experience in expressing dissatisfaction against national institutions during the aforementioned period.

Political developments throughout the world in 2016 inspired interest in Romania and kept internal unrest to a minimum, in contrast to the period between 2012 and 2015, when the Romanian population was in a near constant state of protest against their leaders.

Tensions escalated and neared breaking point in October of 2015, when a nightclub in the nation’s capital named Colectiv caught on fire and killed 64 people.

The blame for the accident was heaped upon the local government for granting a permit to the club despite there being an obvious lack of safety measures and the incident itself was used as an example to show truly how widespread and entrenched corruption is in Romania. The explanation for why corruption possesses such a stranglehold over the Eastern European nation harks back to its dark past of the communist regime.

Communism in Romania was weeded out during the December revolution of 1989, when almost 300,000 people took to the streets in order to oust dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and the culmination of which saw him and his wife being convicted by a kangaroo court and later executed by firing squads.

Although the lack of a political vacuum in the revolution’s immediate aftermath was welcome, Ceausescu’s policies had ensured that the incoming democratic government wouldn’t posses the funds necessary to provide wages for a generation of public employees, while a majority of the general population’s produce had been hijacked and forcefully exported by Ceausescu in the late eighties to settle skyrocketing debt, leaving millions impoverished and the economic landscape in shambles.

Further, the communist regime had made sure that the entire adult population was employed and those not capable of gaining one on their own be provided a job in the government. Thus, the regime’s fall rendered millions jobless and hampered Romania’s production capacity to no end, while salaries of both private and public workers were drastically lowered.
It was at this point when the corruption endemic that now infects Romania took hold, emerging at first as a supplement to the low wages for workers and then becoming institutionalised and furthered by those with higher incomes.

Seeing as how all sections of general society were taking in stride corruption and bribery, the government too participated.

While the Romanian public became more idealistic and refused to damage their own nation’s economy, the government never came to change.

Undoubtedly, the current protests posses great historical relevance, though there are those trying to tarnish its importance.

Dragnea blamed the protests on the President Klaus Iohannis, claiming that it was the first stage of an organised coup to instate him at the nation’s helm. He went on further and made clear that his party’s government wouldn’t step down for they were responsible toward those who elected them.

And he was right, counter-protests began in the first week of February that saw the PSD’s supporters spill onto the streets – about 500 of them.

The crisis that now faces Romania is one created by its people and one which they won’t face alone as, in 2017, for the first time in a decade, all EU member nation economies are growing simultaneously, despite which Romania remains a bright spot and grows at the highest rate.

Though the EU can never stave off the sustained barrage of criticism which, at times, questions the organisation’s very structure, it certainly won’t let Romania’s hopeful future implode anytime soon.

Tags: Anti-Corruption MovementCommunismRomania
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

A very late but a very brutal rebuttal to HuffPost’s mockery of Bharat Mata

Next Post

Azam Khan is attempting to create a deadly mix of two unrelated things

Related Posts

We Share Borders With Tibet, Not China”: Khandu’s Sharp Reply
Geopolitics

Khandu’s Bold Message to China: Arunachal Belongs to India, Border Was With Tibet

9 July 2025

In a powerful statement, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu drew a sharp line between historical truth and Chinese...

Pakistan on edge as coup rumors spark fear of military takeover
Analysis

Coup Season in Pakistan? Munir Plots Move as Zardari Trembles, Sharif Watches Helplessly

9 July 2025

Pakistan is once again teetering on the edge of political chaos. As rumours swirl of a potential coup, the...

26 Global Awards and Counting: Modi Receives Brazil’s Civilian Honour
Geopolitics

PM Modi Honoured with Brazil’s Top Civilian Award, 26th Global Recognition

9 July 2025

In a historic moment underscoring India's growing global influence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Brazil's highest civilian...

Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Currently Playing

Delhi’s Trump Card: Kejriwal Wants a Nobel for Surviving Politics

Delhi’s Trump Card: Kejriwal Wants a Nobel for Surviving Politics

00:05:03

Team B of DMK? The Truth About Actor Vijay’s Party

00:07:45

Rs 15,000 cr gone? Saif Ali Khan's crown crushed by enemy property law

00:04:40

Siddaramaiah Sparks Vaccine Theory to Hide Congress Chaos?

00:09:21

Murugan Wave Rattles INDIA Bloc, Triggers Reactionary Meet in Madurai

00:08:10
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
tfipostTfipost.com
Right Wing | News Analysis | Indian Opinion
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

©2025 TFI Media Private Limited

No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
TFIPOST हिन्दी
TFIPOST Global

©2025 TFI Media Private Limited