site.btaRomanian Hauliers, Farmers' Protest Goes into Third Day

Transport operators and farmers in Romania are protesting for the third consecutive day on Friday. A column of 30 to 40 tractors and some 50 trucks has headed for Bucharest in a second attempt to reach the Victoria Square in front of the Romanian Government’s building. The protestors are threatening to block the Romanian capital. They demand a cap of RON 5,000 (some BGN 2,000) on civil liability insurance, a reduction in the time it takes to pass through border crossings, allowances for accommodation and food, and to be paid when waiting for more than two hours for their trucks to be loaded/unloaded.

On Wednesday, the protesters blocked traffic in Bucharest and several other cities in Romania.

On Thursday evening, the protesting transport operators and farmers blocked one of the entrances to Bucharest. The demonstrators tried to get to the Victoria Square, but were stopped from entering the city by the police. Thus, the demonstrators tried to break the police blockade as a sign of discontent with the authorities.

Commenting on the protest, Romanian Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu told Digi24 that the police do nothing but apply the law.

Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan said he has authorized the protest, because the citizens are in their right to protest.

Right-wing nationalists, senator Diana Sosoaca (President of the S.O.S. Romania party) and George Simion (President of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians) attended the protest to support it but were booed by the demonstrators.

Bucharest prefect Rares Hopinca described the protest as politicised by an extremist party and declared it illegal.

Conferring with cabinet members earlier on Friday, the disgruntled were told that they will be invited to a meeting by the end of the week at the latest to discuss the issues raised. 

Speaking to Digi24, Romanian Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu said that his ministry's doors are open, but no request for a meeting has yet been submitted by the protesters. On 12 noon on Monday their demands will be discussed, he added.