The Romanian Government has called an emergency meeting following four days of unrest, the worst in around twenty years, and which some analysts are predicting could bring down the current Government. Although the largest and most violent protests have been concentrated in the capital Bucharest, actions are believed to have been staged in around forty towns in the country, prompting fears that the Government’s perceived inability in solving Romania’s festering economic crisis could gain enough support to have a significant impact on the form of the current government.
This latest unrest which follows that seen in September 2010 (due to a slash in public sector wages), has this time been sparked by the more unusual catalyst of the resignation of the well-known and much liked Palestinian-born doctor turned Romanian Deputy Health Minister Dr Raed Arafat, over disagreements with regards to changes to the country’s health services. Dr Arafat, who travelled to Romania in the 1980s, gained widespread notoriety and appeal thanks to the improvements which he made to the emergency services. The same commitment and passion for healthcare has, however, proved to be his undoing, as he felt he was forced to resign due to his opposition to government plans for the privatisation of the country’s healthcare system in an effort to save scarce public funds. Dr Araft declared that “quality does not automatically arrive with privatisation” predicting that “for the patient, the system will be weaker”. This difference of opinion with Romanian President Traian Basescu had lead to significant public confrontation between the two, and culminated with Basescu giving Dr Araft a very public dressing down on television describing him as a “liar” who held “leftist” views.
In an effort to try and quell the growing unrest, Basescu announced that he was scrapping the unpopular reform, however, what started out as support demonstrations for the popular politician have captured the discontent felt by many Romanian’s who are feeling the strain of the government austerity measures and feel they are yet to see the promised benefits of EU accession in 2007. Protesters and opposition parties are now calling for early elections and believe that Basescu should step down. Despite government claims that the majority of protesters, who clashed with riot police in Bucharest University square on 14-15 January 2012, are made up of young football fans. it appears that although this could account for some troublemakers, the vast majority of those staging relatively peaceful demonstrations are regular Romanians eager for political change. The Prime Minister Emil Boc has condemned the violence, but has admitted not only that at times the authorities reaction to the demonstrators had been “over zealous”, but also that the government’s austerity measures had “brought hardship upon people”.
In order to capitalise on the unrest the Social-Liberal opposition (USL) has requested that the election be moved forward from their current November 2012 schedule. How likely an outcome this is remains unclear, as does the prospect of Basescu yielding to the protesters’ chants of “get out, you miserable dog”. What is clear, is that the next few days will be of critical importance and a real test of the appetite of the Romanian people for change. As evidenced by the government’s request for dialogue, they will be keen to try and appease the protesters with further concessions, although it is unclear what more they could offer whilst under such tight financial restrictions. A significant escalation in violence would obviously increase pressure on the government, which may be willing to sacrifice Basescu in order to restore order. If, however, as a people well-versed in disappointment, the movement begins to recede, both the government and Basescu are likely to survive the unrest as they did following the September 2010 disquiet.
(Photo credit: BOGDAN CRISTEL/REUTERS)
