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Romanian President Nicușor Dan has condemned violence, assaults and vandalism during a protest at Victory Square in Bucharest, warning that legitimate grievances cannot justify such attacks.
“The violence we are witnessing today in Victory Square is extremely serious,” Dan said in a statement.
“I condemn with the utmost firmness such actions and any attempt to turn a legitimate protest into street fights.”
Dan said attacks, assaults and acts of vandalisFm were “unacceptable” and should be punished according to the law.
“No grievance can justify such behaviour and the endangerment of other citizens on the street,” he said.
The Romanian president also accused unnamed politicians of attempting to exploit the unrest and increase tensions surrounding the demonstration.
“Equally serious and reprehensible is the incitement to violence and the attempt by irresponsible politicians to artificially amplify social tension in order to hijack a legitimate rally stemming from legitimate grievances,” Dan said.
He stressed that the government’s response to the violence should not be confused with opposition to the right to protest.
“In a democratic society, protest is a form of freedom, not intimidation,” he said.
“Demonstrations are part of the civil rights guaranteed and respected in all democracies.”
Dan said Romania’s Constitution protected public dissatisfaction with government decisions as long as demonstrations were organised and conducted peacefully.
“The difficult social, economic, and political context is real and has generated many justified frustrations in our society,” he said.
“However, violence has never been and will never be a solution.”
He also linked the unrest to what he described as the growing use of hate speech in public discourse, including on the internet.
“Unfortunately, we see how hate speech, increasingly promoted in the public space, including online, produces dramatic effects and turns into regrettable actions,” Dan said.
He appealed for calm and dialogue, saying negotiations and engagement remained the best way to address the grievances behind the protests.
“I make an appeal to reason and responsibility. The path of dialogue remains the only one that can offer solutions,” he said.
Dan’s statement follows the violence which erupted after Farmers gathered at Victory Square to protest.
Clashes with police have been reported. The demonstrations are reportedly linked to farmers’ demands and grievances over government policies affecting the agricultural sector.
Violențele pe care le vedem astăzi în Piața Victoriei sunt extrem de grave. Condamn cu toată fermitatea astfel de acțiuni și orice încercare de a transforma un protest legitim în lupte de stradă.
Atacurile și agresiunile, actele de vandalism, sunt inacceptabile și trebuie…— Nicușor Dan (@NicusorDanRO) September 15, 2026
