Several hundred protesters demonstrated on Thursday in Victoriei Square and outside the Bucharest Tribunal against increased local taxes and the new package of fiscal measures prepared by the government.
At the Bucharest Tribunal, protesters waving tricolor flags chanted "Thieves out, patriots in!", "Resignation!", "Bolojan, beware / Romania loathes you!", "We want free elections!", and held signs reading "Take down the tax hikes!", "Who elected you / To make us poor?", "Down with the Government!", "Bolojan - Resign!"
In Victoriei Square, several participants waved the flag of the United States.
Earlier in the day, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) posted on Facebook: "Enough with increased taxes and duties! Today at 12:00 Romanians are protesting all over the country! Where do you vent your grievances?"
According to an AUR statement, demonstrations took place "in over 500 locations across the country", including Constanta, Curtea de Arges, Drobeta-Turnu Severin and Motru.
Mihai Enache, leader of the AUR deputies, who was present at the protest outside the Tribunal, argued that "austerity does not mean robbing people of their money".
"It's not just us gathered here, there are hundreds of localities across the country where Romanians are telling this government that things cannot go on like this. People want a reset of political power. Today's government is disconnected from what Romania wants. They have raised taxes illegally. Today we had a court hearing, and that's why we came here, in front of the Bucharest Tribunal, to protest the tax increases. The Bolojan Government should stop being angry with its own people and lead them toward a better future, not literally take money out of their pockets," Enache said.
Petrisor Peiu, leader of the AUR Senate group, added that the population's tolerability has been exceeded.
"People are tired of so-called 'reforms' that are chaotic. This is not reform. The population's capacity to bear these measures matters, and the government should take it into account. The lower limit has been reached," the AUR senator said.
Shortly before the protest, the first hearing in the lawsuit challenging Decision No. 514/23.12.2025 of the Bucharest General Council, which raised local taxes and fees, concluded at the Tribunal.
AUR MEP Gheorghe Piperea said he believes the legal action has all the necessary elements to justify suspending the decision.
"I don't want to anticipate anything, but I believe we demonstrated all the elements needed for a suspension, because this is a well-founded case and involves imminent damage," Piperea said.
He noted that many similar challenges have been filed against decisions of local authorities across the country.
Protesters announced they will continue demonstrating against the government as long as the Bolojan Executive keeps in place the austerity measures affecting vulnerable categories.
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