Thousands Protest Austerity Measures in Bucharest Amidst Economic Crisis

Massive Turnout Against Austerity

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bucharest on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to voice their strong opposition to the Romanian government's austerity measures. The demonstration, organized primarily by the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS), saw participants marching from Victory Square, where the government building is located, towards the Palace of Parliament and Constitution Square. Protesters, including trade union members, teachers, police officers, and public workers, demanded higher wages, tax reductions, and a halt to public sector job cuts.

Demands and Grievances

The demonstrators' demands were clear and urgent, focusing on the economic hardships faced by many Romanians. Key grievances included:

• An increase in the national minimum wage, with unions proposing a rise from RON 4,050 (EUR 796) to at least RON 4,325 (EUR 850).
• Measures to curb the annual inflation rate, which stands at 9.9%, the highest since 2010.
• Tax reductions for workers and a withdrawal from budget reforms that involve salary and job cuts.
• An end to public sector job cuts, with approximately 13,000 administrative jobs projected to be eliminated.
• Stronger efforts to combat systemic tax evasion.

Protesters carried placards with slogans such as 'We want decent salaries!' and 'Don't hit those who save you,' reflecting widespread discontent. The union bloc stated, 'Workers are once again being sacrificed for their jobs — even though we work harder, we are getting poorer,' adding that 'The impoverishment of the population has become state policy.'

Government's Austerity Package

The protests come as the Romanian government, a four-party coalition led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and sworn in by President Nicolae Dan in June, implements stringent austerity measures. These measures are designed to address Romania's soaring budget deficit, which reached 9.3% of GDP in 2024, one of the highest in the European Union. Under an agreement with the European Union, Romania aims to reduce this deficit to 8.4% this year.

The austerity package includes several controversial provisions:

• An increase in the standard VAT rate from 19% to 21%.
• Freezing of public sector wages and pensions for the incoming year.
• Significant cuts in public spending and administrative jobs.

The government has defended these measures as crucial for fiscal stability and compliance with EU demands. Following the protests, the union bloc announced that it had been invited by the ruling parties for discussions.