2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, President's suspension
"If I return as president it will still be impossible for thieves and impostors from politics to negotiate with me their calmness. I think that Romanians do not want the peace during Iliescu government. I can not guarantee that I will continue to be a strong nut for those who believe that Romania can go forward with a justice that protects thieves", Băsescu said.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, President's suspension
He added that "suspender's great argument is that I haven't popularity", and if he will be reappointed at referendum and he will find Victor Ponta in office he will never entrust the prime minister function.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, President's suspension
On the other hand, USL leaders Crin Antonescu and Victor Ponta ensured that there will be no pressure for justice and for other state institutions.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, President's suspension
Victor Ponta said that during this period of political crisis his family received threats, having to resort to state institutions for protection.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, President's suspension
On July 9, the Constitutional Court ascertained President Băsescu's suspension and confirmed Crin Antonescu as Interim President. Therewith, Constitutional Court rejected complaints formulated by Vasile Blaga and Roberta Anastase, supported by PDL, regarding removal from office of President of the Senate, respectively President of the Chamber of Deputies.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, President's suspension
On July 19, USL laid down, at the Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, a penal complaint against suspended President Traian Băsescu and other 14 people, for "spreading false information, for defamation of the country and the nation and for endangering safety of the national economy and currency stability".


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum
A referendum on impeaching President Traian Băsescu was held in Romania on July 29, 2012. The referendum was required after Parliament voted in favour of impeaching Băsescu on July 6, and had to take place within a month.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum
Initially, in press was rumored that the referendum wasn't validated due to presence under 50% at vote. Central Electoral Bureau announced on August 1, 2012 the final results of the referendum regarding president Traian Băsescu's dismissal. According to BEC data, 46.24% of citizens entitled to vote attended the referendum. For Băsescu's dismissal voted 87.52%, and against 11.15%. 1.32% was the percentage of invalid votes. On August 2, the judge Aspazia Cojocaru declared, after the Constitutional Court meeting, that from her point of view referendum ought to be canceled, because it was based on false data. According to 20 October 2011 census, in Romania there aren't 18 million citizens eligible to vote, how many were registered on electoral lists.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum
Constitutional Court decided on August 21 that 29 July Romanian presidential impeachment referendum is invalid, and Traian Băsescu will return at the Cotroceni Palace. According to official sources, the decision was taken by 6 votes to 3. Shortly after this decision, Foundation for Defense of Citizens Against State Abuses sued the Romanian state at European Court of Human Rights for invalidation of the referendum. "Despite all normative acts in effect, recommendations of the Venice Commission, actual updated figures, the nine judges of the Constitutional Court of Romania ignore the political choice of the Romanians.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum
In present-day Romania, the volition of 9 political appointees is above the volition of a nation", was said in a FACIAS communique. Furthermore, Foundation representatives say in CCR decisions material is not respected the principle of the double degree of jurisdiction, in that CCR decisions can not be appealed to any internal tribunal.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum, Controversies
On July 24, the President of PDL decided to urge voters to not vote at July 29's Romanian presidential impeachment referendum. The decision was made by 59 votes in favor and one abstention. Prime Minister Victor Ponta said that this action is illegal and the party led by Vasile Blaga should be acted criminally.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum, Controversies
After casting a ballot in the referendum, Prime Minister Victor Ponta expressed "outrage" over what he called his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán's intervention in the country's internal politics by telling ethnic Hungarians in Romania to stay away from the polls in a recall referendum. A count of voters from around 5pm showed turnout was lowest in the Harghita and Covasna counties, at 6.85% and 12.39%, respectively. Likewise, Attila Mesterházy, Hungarian Socialist Party leader, warned that Orbán's statements in Romania will affect the minority of ethnic Hungarians, "both short-term and long-term", considering that Hungarian Prime Minister gesture is an interference in the internal affairs of Romania. In both counties, ethnic Hungarians constitute the majority of the population.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum, Controversies
The European Commissioner for Justice, Viviane Reding, said that after the referendum for President Traian Băsescu's dismissal, there were new pressures and attempts to influence the outcome. Reding said the referendum could not end the political crisis and pressures on judges have continued even after finding out the results, to influence them. She said "the situation in Romania remains fragile", expressing the hope that all political actors in the country are determined to bear "durable and irreversible" the rule of law and judicial independence.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum, Controversies
In response to Reding's statements, the President of the group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Hannes Swoboda, said, on September 12, in the European Parliament plenary, that, by reactions to the situation in recent months in Romania, has been impugned the objectivity of EC. "Why not responded with months before to the facts of Mr. Băsescu? ", S&D leader in PE asked. Hannes Swoboda also showed that 7.4 million Romanians expressed in the referendum against President Băsescu, much more than elected him. He accused PDL MEPs, including Monica Macovei, of propaganda with falsehoods against USL.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, July 29 referendum, Controversies
"Where, if not here in PE, you must tell why vote of 8.4 million citizens did not matter at all to you this summer, why a rule that isn't valid anywhere in Europe was imposed to Romania and here I refer to the 50% to vote", said PSD MEP Cătălin Ivan, in his speech in EP plenary, at the debate on the political situation in Romania. Addressing to Reding, Ivan claimed that she has "acted as canvasser" of Traian Băsescu.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, December 9 legislative election
Legislative elections were held in Romania on 9 December 2012. The Social Liberal Union of Prime Minister Victor Ponta won an absolute majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, December 9 legislative election
Cezar Preda resigned as senior vice-president of PDL and as president of PDL Buzău shortly after the Central Electoral Bureau published the first results of the elections, according to that he would have lost a new mandate in Buzău County, in favor of Marcel Ciolacu, his rival from the USL. Likewise, Cristian Preda resigned as senior vice president of the PDL during the Board of Directors meeting of December 14. A similar decision was taken by Sever Voinescu. Dan Diaconescu is not covered in the next Parliament. According to Gorj County Electoral Bureau, Diaconescu was voted by 32.47% of voters. His main opponent was himself Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta, which received 60.98% of votes.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, December 9 legislative election
Once with the legislative elections, the Right Romania Alliance was dissolved, under the pretext that the alliance was only an electoral association. Amid the failure of elections, more PDL members demanded the resignation of president of the PDL, Vasile Blaga.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, December 9 legislative election, Electioneering
The electioneering, initiated on November 9 and ended on December 8, was not without incidents. Dan Diaconescu, candidate from PP-DD in the same college of Chamber of Deputies in Târgu Jiu with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, is investigated for electoral bribery. Authorities were notified after PSD representatives within Gorj County Council filed a complaint regarding the distribution of food and the organization of an electoral spectacle before the electioneering. According to the Emergency Ordinance issued on November 6 by Ponta Cabinet, offering food, drink and money in the campaign is illegal.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, December 9 legislative election, Electioneering
The President of PDL Vrancea, Alin Trășculescu, was caught in the act by anticorruption prosecutors while receiving €50,000 from a businessman in the form of bribe. He was detained for 24 hours for allegations of lobbyism, instigation to false and incitement to the misdemeanor of money laundering. Alin Trășculescu was under the supervision of National Anticorruption Department for two years. He claimed he could get contracts with the State, from the Ministry of Development and Tourism, led then by Elena Udrea. Eventually, Bucharest Court decided to arrest Alin Trășculescu for 29 days.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, December 9 legislative election, Electioneering
In a commune from Buzău County, USL representatives clashed with ARD sympathizers, the conflict being resolved at the arrival of local police. Two people were seriously injured and four others arrested in the altercation. On December 3, several dozens of supporters of USL, sympathizers of Victor Ponta candidate for another term as deputy in Gorj County had a confrontation which escalated into fray and fight in Târgu Jiu with the supporters of Dan Diaconescu, the PPDD rival of the Prime Minister. Following clashes, a young man was injured and taken to hospital.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests
The political turmoil fractured Romanian society. Currently, the Romanian people are divided into two camps: anti-Băsescu and pro-Băsescu. Despite high temperatures, driven from behind by their parties or on their own, in several areas of the country, people began to leave the streets to defend their favorites or to protest their opponents. Thus, relatively peaceful protests have erupted in major cities of Romania. In Arad, protests turned violent when Băsescu's opponents and sympathizers clashed. The groups were quickly dispersed by police. None of the groups participating in action on Thursday evening has no authorization, can not specifying how protests will last.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests
Street protests were also organized in Bucharest. About one hundred people protested on July 4 at University Square against the political class. Those present displayed messages against exploitation in Roșia Montană and shale gas. At Victory Square, occurred a new demonstration against the current leadership, and came, as one day ago, former Prime Minister Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu. He argued that it is normal that people to leave in the streets, criticizing USL leader Ponta and Antonescu, which he said that "have succeeded to demonstrate how it can be trampled the Constitution". Ungureanu has transmitted to demonstrators that "he awaits them Thursday", in Revolution Square, where the Liberal Democratic Party announced the organization of an anti-USL meeting.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests
In the following days, protests were amplified, such that more than 2,000 people gathered at the meeting on Thursday evening, in University Square, in a demonstration in support of President Traian Băsescu, attended by prominent members of the PDL. From Thursday's protests were not without any incidents. Attending the pro-Băsescu meeting, Raluca Turcan went faint to the end of the meeting and another five people needed medical care after they felt sick to rally in Revolution Square. Some demonstrators in University Square were fought, Thursday evening, and were separated by gendarmes in device on-site, that raised two people from among recalcitrants. Protesters had altercations after two of them were taken by the gendarmes.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests
In Timișoara, the two groups of protesters were nearly to confront. PDL sympathizers and supporters of the President gathered Thursday evening in the center of Timișoara to denounce what they call abusive measures taken by Ponta government in last days. Spirits were heated when in the area has appeared a group of supporters of USL, shouting slogans against the President. The dispute between the two groups, initially only verbal, risked to degenerate, so gendarmes immediately intervened to appease spirits.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests
On July 20, USL organized largest demonstration to date in Craiova, "a major political rally with about 20,000 people". At the manifestation attended Victor Ponta, Valeriu Zgonea, Olguța Vasilescu and several ministers. Olguța Vasilescu addressed to the crowd, saying that the country must get rid of "democracy's cancer, Traian Băsescu". Prime Minister Ponta also held a speech. Rovana Plumb, Titus Corlățean, Daniel Constantin, Mircea Geoană and Călin Popescu Tăriceanu were also present at the meeting. According to spokesman of Dolj County Inspectorate of Gendarmes Ionuț Savu, the meeting was attended by approximately 18,000 people, from several counties. In Marin Sorescu Theater area, traffic was blocked for several hours.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests
Another major political rallies were organized by USL on July 17 in Brașov (5,000 participants), on July 22 in Iași (15,000 participants), on July 24 in Oradea (8,000 participants), on July 25 in Pitești (7,000 participants) and Alexandria (1,500 participants), on July 26 at Romexpo, Bucharest (50,000 participants), on July 27 in Râmnicu Vâlcea (700 participants).


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests
In several cities throughout Romania were organized pro-Băsescu meetings, that few people attended: Bucharest (15,000 participants), Iași (10,000 participants), Cluj-Napoca (10,000 participants), Slatina (100 participants).


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 21 August
More than 200 people gathered on August 21 to protest in front of the Constitutional Court. They asked judges to validate the 29 July referendum, as suspended president Traian Băsescu to be dismissed. Moreover, in a petition on the Internet, approximately 2,000 people demanded that the meeting where CCR will decide the fate of the referendum to be broadcast live by television. Protesters chanted "Validation!" and have stirred flags and banners with different messages. People said they have not been complied with voting options and they didn't trust even the decisions of the Constitutional Court.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 21 August
After the Constitutional Court invalidated the referendum for dismissal of Traian Băsescu, more people, dissatisfied with the verdict, went to the presidential campaign center, where they chanted against him, one of the protesters being detained by gendarmes. On the way to University Square, protesters also stopped in front of the Supreme Court Parquetry, where several minutes chanting "Thieves". At the same time, crowd was joined by a group of several dozen people that displayed a banner that was written "Outlaws Association", some of whom being dressed in national costumes.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 21 August
In the evening, over 2,000 people protested in front of the National Theatre. Protesters shouted messages against CCR decision of invalidation of the referendum and asked Traian Băsescu to resign. Also, most people have come up with anti-US placards with messages, considering that Băsescu was reinstalled at Americans desire.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 21 August
Spirits were engirt and, at around 9:00 p.m., people breached fences and entered on the carriageway, blocking traffic. The gendarmes did not intervene, only forming a cordon to be prepared if people resort to violence. Traffic was diverted and only around midnight was resumed in the Square area, when protesters began to withdraw to their homes. Nevertheless, dozens of people continued to protest after midnight.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 22 August
Gendarmes identified 106 people who blocked traffic on 21 and 22 August in University Square. Authorities say they have not protested peacefully and have disturbed public peace "by producing noise with any device or object or by shouting". Were given 50 fines between 200 and 1,000 lei those who troubled peace and other 49 people have records because they have blocked designedly the Magheru Boulevard. Likewise, 7 people have criminal records for destruction and outrage.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 22 August
As provided in the Constitution, Gendarmerie has no right to make criminal records. On this line, the Interior Minister Mircea Dușa commissioned an inquiry to Gendarmerie, sanctioning those who have announced the criminal records and accusing them of incompetence.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 28 August
Ioan Ghișe, the PNL Senator who asked Parliament to take note that Traian Băsescu is justly dismissed, protested in front of the Cotroceni Palace against Băsescu's reinstatement. With two banners attached to the body, Senator said that it is "a symbolic gesture" and promised to come every day, "as will be fair weather".


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 28 August
PNL Senator, Ioan Ghișe, proposed two variants of attack of invalidation of the referendum: either the Parliament to resend the Constitutional Court decision through which the referendum is considered invalid, or the Parliament to ascertain that suspended president Traian Băsescu is dismissed, but Parliament's plenary didn't approved the debate of his projects.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 28 August
Moreover, Senator Ghișe prepared penal complaints against the six judges of the Constitutional Court who voted to invalidate the referendum of 29 July, with the following counts: usurpation of official qualities, undermining the sovereignty of the people, abuse in office and negligence in office. "All these malfeasences are provided by the Penal Code with imprisonment", PNL Senator said.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 1 September
Over 300 people gathered in front of Sector 2 City Hall booed President Traian Băsescu, when he arrived in arm with his daughter. People did care about this special moment in the life of Elena and shouted "Resignation!" or "Down with Băsescu!". Neither bridegroom's family arrival was not without incidents. Also to these people have yelled "Thieves!" and booed them. Some of the people gathered in front of Sector 2 City Hall have applauded him, the President, but after civil wedding.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 1 September
Some of the people who booed Băsescu's arrival say they are among those who protested against the president both at the University and at the Cotroceni Palace.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 1 September
Before the arrival of family Băsescu at Sector 2 City Hall, between protesters and a few sympathizers of the president a conflict broke out. The groups first had an exchange of words, whereupon two old men began to jostle. The conflict was interrupted after intervention of local police. Around 4:00 p.m., gendarmes mounted fences at the church of Saint Spiridon, where took place the religious wedding of Elena Băsescu, to avoid more civil conflicts.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 18 September
Hundreds of protesters gathered, on September 18, in front of the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, where chanted anti-presidential slogans. A young man who tried to throw over the fence of the palace a roll of toilet paper was forcedly stopped by gendarmes on the ground, fact that outraged the protesters.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 18 September
On the same day, a Romanian climbed on the metal structure of the entry into the Brussels-Luxembourg railway station, under the office windows of Euro-MPs. "He was equipped with a mouthpiece and have something to share with Barroso, Schulz, Mazzoni, mafia in Romania etc. ", PDL MEP Sebastian Bodu wrote on his Facebook account. PE security officers, police and firefighters forcedly climbed him down. Afterwards, he was arrested.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 1 December
More than 20,000 people attended the military parade organized with the occasion of the National Day. The event was marked by moments in which President Traian Băsescu was booed by some of the spectators. At the same event, representatives of the Romanian Gendarmerie assaulted some of the protesters that attended the parade.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Protests, August–September demonstrations, 1 December
The chief of Bucharest Gendarmerie, Brigadier General Eugen Meran, was warned, and Major Claudiu Gogu, Head of Service within the same structure, was dismissed, following internal controls regarding the fulfillment of the mission of ensuring public order and safety, by some representatives of the Gendarmerie, with the occasion of 1 December.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Impact
Reference rate leu/euro announced on July 23 by the National Bank of Romania reached a new record high, of 4.6460 units, and the official rate for the dollar struck a new record and rose to 3.7999 lei/dollar. From July 3, when political tensions began to increase, on the interbank market leu fell by 4.2% against the euro, and stock prices began to exceed record after record. The rate for Swiss franc increased from 3.8173 lei/franc to 3.8314 lei/franc, representing the maximum for the last 11 months. A higher official rate was recorded on August 12, 2011, when franc was quoted at 3.8926 lei.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Impact
Politically, infighting in the summer of 2012 had deteriorated the image of Romania in the face of European leaders. After the EU officials perceived the Ponta Government acts as abuses against the legal state, Romania risks to remain at the gates of the Schengen Area, but mainly to run out European funds.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Impact
After Tuesday, July 3, President of European People's Party Wilfried Martens warned that Social Liberal Union has started a plan to undermine the state, and Wednesday German MEPs leader Markus Ferber said he would initiate the suspension of Romania in the European Council for "lack of minimum standards functioning the legal state", stake increased substantially when Alain Lamassoure and Elmar Brok asked the European Commission to prepare a report leading to suspension of voting rights of Romania in the European Council.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Impact
The critics that the EPP leaders and officials formulated against the Social Liberal Union Government, S&D leader Hannes Swoboda expressed the concern regarding the lack of concern of the EPP officials with respect to the erosion of democracy in FIDESZ led Hungary.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Impact
Alike, PSD requested to Party of European Socialists the postponement or relocation to Brussels of PES Congress, as this event to be not "shadowed" by political infighting, and Brussels transfer decision will be officially announced next days, declared on August 30, Hannes Swoboda, S&D leader in the European Parliament.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
Radu Zlati, former adviser to the interim president Crin Antonescu, recognizes that the PNL leader has problems within his own party. In a post on his blog, Zlati says that in the National Liberal Party coalesces a movement that aims to Antonescu's removal from office. He argues, however, that a possible coup will fail. In press favorable to Traian Băsescu was launched, on September 5, the assumption of tensions in the USL. The strategy is to demobilize USL and confuse the electorate. Using the pretext of a declaration of "dissident" Ludovic Orban, the manipulative tentative culminated with breaking news headlines about "USL breakage".


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
Reactions and statements of European leaders regarding Traian Băsescu's reinstatement irritated Băsescu's detractors. PNL Vice-President Relu Fenechiu considered that in the test of Băsescu's dismissal Romanians confronted with the U.S., Germany and the European Commission.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
Crin Antonescu, USL Co-President, said he disagrees with Victor Ponta's position to consider well-balanced the EC attitude as against Romania, but he understands these statements as attempts to reduce Brussels' hostility. "I'm disappointed in Barroso's lack of shade to take account of what Romanians expressed by vote. It was not a well-balanced attitude. It was an obvious and assumed political bias. Barroso congratulated himself for action from Romania, that was a political gesture against millions of Romanians", Antonescu said in a TV show.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
In a letter to the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, with the occasion of debates organized by the EP on the political situation in Romania, former President of Romania, Emil Constantinescu, claims that in the last two months Romania "was subjected to unacceptable pressures for a member of EU, pressures coming from the European Commissioner for Justice, Viviane Reding and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso".


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
"Pressures on the Romanian Parliament, the Government and Interim President, who acted within the letter and spirit of the Constitution of Romania, have no justification in any article of the European Constitution and other regulations is an abuse that creates an extremely dangerous precedent for violation of an EU Member State sovereignty. These pressures have been made based on charges unrelated to reality and are contradicted by any fair and impartial analysis of the events and documents.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
Now, when the process of suspension of the President and the referendum for his dismissal ended with the return in office, in the conditions imposed by EU, we can consider as a case study", he appreciates. Emil Constantinescu also says in the letter that "what Commissioner for Justice and European Commission President ignores is that the current mandate of the President of Romania is illegitimate".


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
Liberal superintendent of the Senate, Ioan Ghișe, announced, on September 13, in a press conference, that he submitted, at the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, criminal complaints against President Traian Băsescu and six of the judges of the Constitutional Court. In the complaint against Traian Băsescu, PNL Senator explains that President may be accused of usurpation of official qualities and of propaganda in favor of the totalitarian state.


2012 Romanian constitutional crisis, Reactions, Domestic
On September 16, Democratic Liberal Party, Civic Force Party and Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party signed the protocol Right Romania Alliance. The Alliance is founded on Justice and Truth alliance model and is initially composed of three co-presidents: Vasile Blaga (DLP), Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu (Civic Force) and Aurelian Pavelescu (CDNPP). Originally, in the Alliance also ranged the New Republic Party led by Mihail Neamțu, but, due to an appeal to the court, was temporarily waived its hiring.


2012 Romanian floods
The 2012 Romanian floods were the result of an extreme weather event that struck Romania in late May 2012. Authorities reported four deaths throughout Romania. The south-east of the country, especially Vrancea County was most affected. Also affected were the provinces of Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad and Sofia in neighbouring Bulgaria.


2012 Romanian floods
Seven houses were flooded in Lacu Roșu neighborhood (Brăila). According to data from the Brăila County Department of Agriculture, torrential rain affected over 800 hectares of sunflower, corn, wheat, barley, soy, and vegetable crops between May 20 and 29. Likewise, several households were flooded in the commune of Mircea Vodă. Throughout the town of Ianca, consumers remained without electricity for two hours.


2012 Romanian floods
In Caraș-Severin County, 250 households were flooded. According to the authorities, 80 households in Șușca, 80 in Radimna, 89 in Prilipeț and one in Lăpușnicu Mare were affected by floods formed on slopes because of heavy rainfall. The water destroyed an electric pillar, leaving inhabitants of Șușca without electricity for three hours. Military firefighters of the 'Semenic' Inspectorate for Emergency Situations saved 20 people, including four children.


2012 Romanian floods
Cloudburst caused spontaneous floods in  Bucharest and Ilfov and Dâmbovița counties. Several streets were flooded after sewers were overwhelmed, and many areas saw damage from hail. Several households were flooded in the commune of Pantelimon. In Dâmbovița County, more cars were damaged after wind ripped boards from the roof of an apartment block. In addition, heavy rains in the commune of Răzvad (Dâmbovița County) turned ditches and streets into rivers. Water entered the cellars of houses, household annexes, courtyards and gardens, and locals' crops were damaged.


2012 Romanian floods
In Mehedinți County, county road DJ607C and local road DC4 were affected by the formation of transversal and longitudinal ravines. National road DN57 was also affected, by slope glide, leading to the collapse of a masonry parapet. Over 240 consumers were left without electricity across Strehaia, Băsești, Budănești and Cracu Lung. The balance sheet of authorities shows that due to Coşuştea River overflow were flooded 100 hectares of tillage, 120 hectares of pastures in village of Corcova and three hectares of agricultural land in village of Broșteni, due to Motru River overflow.


2012 Romanian floods
In Neamț County, 50 households and 19 household annexes were flooded due to heavy rains in early-June. Strong winds, hailstorms and thunderstorms also produced significant damage through Neamț County.


2012 Romanian floods
In Prahova County, several households and institutions were flooded. In the town of Băicoi, severe weather left 18 consumers without electricity. Landslides and rockfalls also affected county road 101T and local road DC47. A six-year-old girl was taken by a stream formed by the recent precipitation.


2012 Romanian floods
In Vaslui County, 40 localities remained without electricity, 25 households were destroyed by water and river deposits, and 15 people were evacuated from their homes. Flash floods in the commune of Solești flash floods caused over 700,000 RON in damages to roads and houses and forced 15 to seek shelter in the Solesti Cultural House. Heavy rains affected over 40 villages in Vaslui County and people lost electricity in the communes of Vutcani and Alexandru Vlahuță. Communes of Vutcani, Bălteni, Lipovăț, Viișoara, Voinești, Laza and Bogdănești reported damage as well, especially to bridges and footbridges.


2012 Romanian floods
At least 10 households in the town of Mărășești and commune of Pufești (Vrancea County) were flooded due to heavy rains. On European route E85, road traffic was hampered in two points by whirling waters that rushed over road. Over 6,140 villagers in the communes of Nereju and Spulber were isolated when a 30m stretch of county road DN2M collapsed. Authorities said that it has exceeded the rate of flooding on the Zăbala River. Record rainfall of 87.5 L/m2 was registered in the mountains of Vrancea County.


2012 Romanian floods
Torrential rainfall in blocked traffic in several parts of Sofia, Bulgaria and the southern bypass road of the city was flooded. Several towns in western Bulgaria also suffered from the storm. In the town of Kyustendil, the storm uprooted eleven trees. The localities of Blagoevgrad, Sandanski, Petrich and Kresna were also affected.


2012 Romanian floods, Casualties
Provisional data from the Ministry of Administration and Interior shows that, after heavy rainfall, were affected 89 localities in 16 counties (Bacău, Brăila, Buzău, Călăraşi, Caraş-Severin, Constanţa, Galaţi, Hunedoara, Ialomiţa, Ilfov, Mehedinţi, Neamţ, Prahova, Tulcea, Vaslui and Vrancea). Military firefighters saved 37 people (24 in Bacău County and 13 in Caraș-Severin County), and other 21 were evacuated to relatives and friends or sheltered in schools or cultural houses (15 in Vaslui County, 4 in Bacău County and 2 in Tulcea County).


2012 Romanian floods, Casualties
A total of 209 localities were flooded and another 24 isolated, and 18 household annexes were destroyed or in danger of collapse. Likewise, storms affected over 62 km of national, county and local roads as well as sections of railways, four bridges and 37 footbridges. 390 hectares of arable land and 24 hectares of pasture were flooded, and 255 fountains were clogged. Authorities reported five deaths, mostly by drowning.


2012 Romanian legislative election
Legislative elections were held in Romania on 9 December 2012. The Social Liberal Union (USL) of Prime Minister Victor Ponta won an absolute majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Despite the severe weather in parts of the country, the turnout was at 41.7%, higher than the last legislative elections held in 2008 which saw a presence of 39.20%.


2012 Romanian legislative election
The Social Liberal Union (USL) obtained a huge majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with 60.07% and 58.61% of the votes respectively and in MP mandates, a record number of 395 seats. Far behind, the Right Romania Alliance (ARD) came in second place with only 16.72% and 16.52% of the votes and 80 seats, losing about half of what they won in 2008.


2012 Romanian legislative election
The Right Romania Alliance officially dissolved after the election. People's Party – Dan Diaconescu (PP-DD) and Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) were the only other political groups that won seats in the Senate. Several parties for ethnic minorities also received individual seats in the Chamber of Deputies.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Background, Protests
Following weeks of demonstrations against austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund for a multi-billion US dollar loan, Prime Minister Emil Boc resigned from his post on 6 February 2012. The opposition, represented by Social Liberal Union leaders Victor Ponta and Crin Antonescu, then called for early elections. However, as the three parties behind the government (PDL, UDMR, UNPR) still relied on a slight parliamentary majority, an interim solution was agreed with the opposition that the government could stay in power until the next elections, conditional of electing a political independent technocrat as the new prime minister. The former Foreign Intelligence Service Director Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu was appointed interim prime minister on 9 February as a result.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Background, Protests
The government announced the intention to hold legislative and local elections at the same time, by lengthening the term of the local elected officials (Mayors, Local Councils, County Councils and County Councils Presidents). It was suspected the attempt to delay local elections were related to the fact, that massive street protests had erupted, and at the same time the Opposition political alliance Social Liberal Union went on strike in Parliament, pushing for early legislative elections to be called one or two weeks after local elections in June. Initially, the government proposed an election date in November 2012, but as the mayoral mandates expire in June 2012, this was ruled unconstitutional. The local elections were eventually held on 10 June, with an unexpected runoff and three repeated elections on 17 June.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Background, Motion of no confidence
The political alliance Social Liberal Union, at that time comprising the three parties PSD, PNL, and PC, initiated and succeeded to vote a motion of no confidence against Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu and his cabinet on 27 April 2012 after just two months in office. President Traian Basescu nominated Opposition leader and president of the Social Democratic Party, Victor Ponta as Prime minister.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Background, Electoral system
In May 2012, the new USL government passed an electoral law in parliament, which changed the election system to a single-round FPTP system without the 5% electoral threshold with extra seats for minorities, both ethnic minorities and Romanian minorities. However, after PDL, fearing poor results in the elections ahead because of it, appealed the Constitutional Court of Romania who invalidated the law on 27 June 2012 and reinstated the old one.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Background, Electoral system
A consequence of this is that after the 2012 legislative elections the size of the new Parliament grew to a record total number of 588, an added 117 seats than in the last legislature: 39 supplementary Senate seats, and 97 supplementary Chamber of Deputies seats, including the 18 seats for the ethnic minorities parties and organisations.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Background, Party standings and political alliances
In late 2010, the PSD+PC Alliance broke up without affecting the MEP seat held by the PC. In January 2011, the National Liberal Party – PNL and the Conservative Party – PC formed the Centre Right Alliance – ACD. In February 2011, ACD together with the Social Democratic Party – PSD formed the Social Liberal Union – USL. Following the local election, PSD, and the National Union for the Progress of Romania – UNPR formed the Centre Left Alliance, thus UNPR joining USL in mid 2012.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Background, Party standings and political alliances
For the 2012 local election PDL formed various county-level alliances with a wide range of parties, including UNPR. Following the presidential impeachment referendum it urged the formation of a political alliance with a number of minor political parties and foundations, such as New Republic led by Mihail Neamțu, and the centre-right Civic Initiative led by Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu. Eventually Ungureanu joined a minor party, Civic Force (FC), and was elected its president. The alliance registered at the Central Electoral Bureau was called Right Romania Alliance – ARD formed by PDL, PNȚ-CD and FC.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Opinion polling
The PDL centred ARD alliance was formed late after the 2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum. As a result, some opinion polls do not include the ARD. Opinion polls that show PDL do not show ARD.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Opinion polling
UNPR joined USL in August–September 2012, in a sceptical environment. As a result, some opinion polls show both political entities. PNG-CD leader George Becali joined the PNL an runs backed by the USL in Bucharest. His former party did not propose any candidates for this election.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Candidates
Out of the 12 contesting parties running for the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, only three submitted a full list of candidates: Social Liberal Union, Right Romania Alliance, and Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania. People's Party - Dan Diaconescu submitted a list with one candidate less than all the available colleges. Only one independent candidate decided to run for the Senate, and 12 for the Chamber of Deputies. There were 18 national minorities associations proposing one candidate each for the Chamber of Deputies.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Results
The Social Liberal Union maintained majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Results, Senate
Social Liberal Union (USL) was formed by Center-Left Alliance (PSD and UNPR - 5 senators, shown in pink) and Center-Right Alliance (PNL and PC - 8 senators, shown in lightblue). Right Romania Alliance (ARD) was formed by PDL, FC, and PNȚ-CD; FC and PNȚ-CD had one senator each, shown together in blue.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Results, Chamber of Deputies
Social Liberal Union (USL) was formed by Center-Left Alliance (PSD and UNPR - 10 deputies, shown in pink) and Center-Right Alliance (PNL and PC - 13 deputies, shown in lightblue). Right Romania Alliance (ARD) was formed by PDL, FC, and PNȚ-CD; FC had 3 deputies and PNȚ-CD had one deputy, shown together in blue.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Local referendums
Two local non-binding referendums were also organized on 9 December, concerning environmental issues.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Local referendums
The first one took place in Alba county and people were asked whether they were in favor or against the Roșia Montană mining project. Although 62% of those who voted voiced support for the controversial project, the referendum did not meet the required turnout of 50%, as only 43,2% of voters turned up.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Local referendums
The second referendum was held in the communes of Limanu, Costinești as well as in the city of Mangalia and asked voters to say whether they were in favor or against the use, by Chevron, of shale gas extraction by means of hydraulic fracturing. This referendum failed to meet the required turnout as well.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Incidents
Although a report by the OSCE stated the elections were administered "professionally and efficiently", the electioneering, initiated on 9 November and ended on 8 December, was not without incidents.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Incidents
Dan Diaconescu, candidate from PP-DD in the same college of Chamber of Deputies in Târgu Jiu with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, is investigated for electoral bribery. Authorities were notified after PSD representatives within Gorj County Council filed a complaint regarding the distribution of food and the organization of an electoral spectacle before the electioneering. According to the Emergency Ordinance issued on 6 November by Ponta Cabinet, offering food, drink and money in the campaign is illegal.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Incidents
On 11 November, an old man from the commune of Mătăsari (Gorj County) had a heart attack shortly after a discussion in contradictory with PDL deputy Constantin Severus Militaru. PDL deputy said that the old man was very indignant because his pension was not recalculated, although he had worked all his life in mining.


2012 Romanian legislative election, Incidents
The President of PDL Vrancea, Alin Trășculescu, was caught in the act by anticorruption prosecutors while receiving €50,000 from a businessman in the form of bribe. He was detained for 24 hours for allegations of lobbyism, instigation to false and incitement to the misdemeanor of money laundering. Alin Trășculescu was under the supervision of National Anticorruption Department for two years. He claimed he could get contracts with the State, from the Ministry of Development and Tourism, led then by Elena Udrea.


2012 Romanian local elections
Local elections have been held in Romania on 10 June 2012. The Government initially tried to postpone the election to be the same day with 2012 Romanian legislative election. But a ruling of the Constitutional court made that option impossible. As of June 2011, a law was passed by the parliament, and promulgated by the president, in which the mayors and the presidents of the County Councils will be elected with in a First Past the Post system.


2012 Romanian local elections, Results
Political map depicting counties according to the county president's party affiliation


2012 Romanian local elections, Results
Political map based on the mayor's party affiliation (denoting only major Romanian cities and towns)


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum
A referendum on impeaching President Traian Băsescu was held in Romania on 29 July 2012. The referendum was required after Parliament voted in favour of impeaching Băsescu on 6 July, and had to take place within a month. It was the second referendum on impeaching Băsescu, the first having been held in May 2007, in which 74% of voters chose to keep him in office. Băsescu was later narrowly re-elected in 2009.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum
The parliament of Romania impeached the former president and called on the nation to dismiss Băsescu on a variety of charges, but Băsescu dismissed the poll as a "putsch" and asked the public to boycott it. Polls showed a majority of Romanians favoring the impeachment of the President, but the turnout was estimated to be around 46%, thus rendering the referendum invalid. The Constitutional court has the final verdict in the case of the validity of the referendum. Final results from the Central Electoral Bureau were published on 1 August 2012.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum
On 2 August 2012, the Court announced that a verdict for the validity of the referendum will be pronounced after 12 September 2012. Until that date, all the authorities have to clear up the electoral lists, in order to correctly calculate the voter turnout. Finally, the verdict will be presented in a joint session of Parliament. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court rescheduled the verdict for 31 August 2012. A second rescheduling placed the verdict on 21 August 2012. The Constitutional Court of Romania subsequently declared the referendum invalid, reinstating Băsescu as president of Romania, which succeeded on 28 August.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Background
Băsescu's political rival, Prime Minister Victor Ponta, accused him of overstepping his powers through illegal phone-tapping, use of national intelligence services against political enemies, and pressuring prosecutors in criminal cases. The president's popularity had fallen due to his support for strong austerity measures and perceptions that his appointments were guided by cronyism. Băsescu responded by calling the referendum a putsch attempt by his opponent, who had previously been criticized for dismissing the speakers in both chambers of the Romanian Parliament and the country's ombudsman. He asked the public to boycott the poll.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Background
On the day before the vote in Parliament, the government changed the referendum law to enable an impeachment referendum to be valid if a majority of voters voted in favour. Previously the law required at least 50% of eligible voters to vote in favour. Following criticism of his tactics from the European Union, which accused him of "undermining the rule of law", Ponta accepted the ruling by the Constitutional Court to require a turnout of 50% plus one to render the result of the referendum valid.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Results
Voters were asked the question "Do you agree with the dismissal of the President of Romania Mr Traian Băsescu?" (Romanian: Sunteți de acord cu demiterea Președintelui României, domnul Traian Băsescu?). Exit polls showed more than 80 percent voted for the impeachment of the president.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Results
The turnout at 23:00 (poll closing time) was estimated to be of 45.92% with a ±3% error margin. This was based on data from 2,889 of the 18,242 polling stations. This does not take into account the special electoral lists for citizens voting outside their residence area (especially those on vacation throughout the country), unmovable and abroad. The turnout of under 50% rendered the referendum results as invalid even though 86% of those who voted supported the impeachment.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Results
The turnout was estimated to have been around 51.6% in rural areas and 41.8% in cities, with Bucharest at 40.0%. The highest turnout was reported in Muntenia with a turnout of over 50% and some counties having over 60%, including Olt, 74.7%; Mehedinți, 70.5%; Teleorman, 70.2%; Giurgiu, 60.7%; and Vâlcea, 60.4%. Eight polling stations in Olt County had a turnout of over 100%, the highest being 126%. In other parts of Romania the turnout was below 50%, with the lowest in Transylvania. The counties with the lowest turnout were Harghita, 11.6%; Covasna, 20.6%; Satu Mare, 28.2%; Mureș, 34.0%; and Arad, 35.0%.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Reactions
After the first results were published, president Băsescu declared that "the flame of democracy has remained alight. Romanians have rejected the coup d'etat." Ponta declared that his government "will respect all decisions of the Constitutional Court and will act as a factor of stability in the next period, regardless of whether the referendum is validated or not". Ponta went on to declare that he is "not going to seek confrontation with Basescu (...) everyone is going to lose if we are continuing to fight", and pledged not to "interfere with the president's prerogatives."


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Reactions
He also said, however, that further cooperation with Băsescu would be impossible after the vote against him, stating "We have nothing more to discuss with a man rejected by the citizens". In a letter to the EU, Ponta pledged to accept the ruling of the Court if it will declare the referendum invalid. However, acting president Crin Antonescu, called on the Constitutional Court to take into account the 2011 census figures which he claims better represent "reality", than the current figures of the official electoral register, which would result in a different figure for the voter turnout.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Reactions
As the results dropped in, relatively peaceful protests were organized in the University Square of Bucharest. People also gathered in front of the National Theatre and the Cotroceni Palace and chanted slogans against president Băsescu.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Reactions
After publication of partial results by the Central Electoral Bureau, following which the quorum was not comprised for Băsescu's dismissal, former President of Romania Ion Iliescu wanted to clarify for RFI that the Constitutional Court is compelled, taking account of European electoral common laws and the Venice Commission's recommendation that no threshold should be imposed, to consider the 29 July referendum valid.


2012 Romanian presidential impeachment referendum, Verdict
The Romanian constitutional court subsequently declared the referendum invalid by a vote of 6–3 due to the fact that turnout did not reach 50%. The move reinstated Băsescu as president of Romania. Acting President Crin Antonescu, however, said that Băsescu was an "illegitimate" leader because he was suspended by parliament. As a reaction to the verdict, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Bucharest, calling for Băsescu's resignation.


2012 Romanian protests
The 2012 Romanian protests were a series of protests and civil manifestations triggered by the introduction of new health reform legislation. In particular, President Traian Băsescu criticized the Deputy Minister of Health, Raed Arafat, on a Romanian television broadcast. The protests became violent, with both protesters and members of the Gendarmerie sustaining injuries during their clashes. On the morning of 5 February 2012, Prime Minister Emil Boc announced his resignation because of the protests. He said that his decision would release the tension in the country's political and social situation. Protests, on a lesser scale, continued in University Square in Bucharest. The protesters demanded the president's resignation and early general elections. There were ongoing protests in Romania in subsequent months over a variety of disagreements.


2012 Romanian protests, Causes of January protests, Parliamentary legislation of 2010
In 2010, in the recession of the late 2000s, the Boc government, with the support of president Traian Băsescu, imposed a series of tax increases and cuts in public sector wages and social benefits. Boc also imposed a new labour code, which was informed by multinational corporations and business representatives such as the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce, the major Romanian trade unions, and some employers' organizations. At the time, the Boc government ruled by only a small majority and the parliamentary opposed all the new measures. Boc therefore used a special procedure provided by the Constitution of Romania to pass the new measures.


2012 Romanian protests, Causes of January protests, Parliamentary legislation of 2011
In the last days of 2011, the government introduced a new healthcare bill. It would have reduced state funded health benefits, de-regulated the health insurance market, and privatised Romanian hospitals.


2012 Romanian protests, Causes of January protests, Objection by Raed Arafat
One of the main objectors was the undersecretary, Raed Arafat, the founder of the "Mobile Service Emergency Resuscitation and Extrication" (SMURD) service, a public emergency service partially funded by private donations and partially by the government. His concern was the privatization of emergency services, which he believed would lead to the disappearance of the public service, as for-profit emergency service companies would have access to both private and public funds. President Băsescu criticised Arafat for his opposition. On 9 January 2012, in a phone call to a TV talk show, Băsescu suggested Arafat leave the Cabinet.


2012 Romanian protests, Causes of January protests, Objection by Raed Arafat
Arafat resigned the following day, citing the main reason as the need for a fair criticism of the healthcare bill from outside the government. On 10 January, in Bucharest, Arafat and SMURD met to unite in opposition. On 11 January, an Arafat-SMURD solidarity meeting was held in Cluj-Napoca in the north-west.


2012 Romanian protests, Causes of January protests, SMURD demonstrations
On 12 January 2012, demonstrations grew in size and spread to Târgu Mureş, the base of SMURD. There, 1,500 to 4,000 people took part in a march organised with the help of the social networking site, "Facebook". As well as supporting SMURD, the marches also started to call for the resignation of Băsescu.


2012 Romanian protests, Causes of January protests, Băsescu
On 13 January 2012, in the evening, president Băsescu held a press conference and asked for the bill to be quashed, citing resistance from the populace. He also criticised those opposing the bill for cronyism. The health minister Ladislau Ritli, acquiesced. Despite these actions, protests continued.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 12 January 2012, a non-violent protest was held in Târgu Mureș to express solidarity with the SMURD founder, Raed Arafat. People gathered in the center of Târgu Mureș moved on the march towards the SMURD headquarters, blocking traffic, and demonstrators were joined by several hundred people, so that their number reached approximately 3,000. Several petitions had drawn up on social networking websites, these having hundreds of thousands, even millions of upholders.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 13 January 2012, in the evening, a rally was held at the University Square, in Bucharest to support Arafat. At around 19:00 local time, protesters marched towards the Cotroceni Palace. The number of demonstrators increased to about 2,000. Other large anti-presidential manifestations were organized in Bucharest, Brașov, Timișoara and Sibiu. No meeting was authorized.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 14 January 2012, protesters rallied at University Square and outside the gates of Cotroceni Palace. To avoid clashes, protective fences were installed. Around 18:00 local time, protesters blocked the Nicolae Bălcescu Boulevard. After the intervention of gendarmes, Nicolae Bălcescu Boulevard was cleared and people were pushed to the sidewalk.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Around 20:50 local time, protesters threw stones at the gendarmes. The Gendarmerie and police officers used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Ambulance Bucharest and SMURD crews intervened for medical care to 20 people. Of these, five were gendarmes. Likewise, an operator of Antena 3 was injured during the protests, after being hit by a brick thrown into the melee. Gendarmes picked up 29 protesters, after they threw blunt objects and have disturbed public order.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 15 January 2012, the demonstrations continued. From the early morning, protesters gathered in the squares of Romania's main cities. They waved Romanian flags cut in the middle (the symbol of the 1989 Romanian Revolution). They called for early elections. The Social Liberal Union (USL) (the parliamentary opposition coalition) demanded an extraordinary plenary meeting of the parliament.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
In the mid afternoon, about one hundred people, mostly former revolutionaries, gathered in Victory Square, Timişoara, to protest. The meeting was authorized and was scheduled to end at 17:00, when supporters of football team Poli Timişoara were expected to arrive in the square. An elderly man chanting in favor of Băsescu was escorted by the gendarmes from the area. During the night, most protesters at University Square maintained a non-violent stance, while smaller groups tried to destroy police barricades. Some allege manipulation of the demonstrations (for example, the police intentionally allowing hooligan activity) for political reasons. In Iaşi's Union Square, a meeting of solidarity with Arafat was organised by the Iaşi National Liberal Party's (PNL) youth organization. They were joined by others who gathered in Palace of Culture Square.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Elias Bucurica, a member of the National Union for the Progress of Romania (UNPR), which supported the government was seen at a demonstration. Pictures of Bucurica at a UNPR rally supporting Neculai Ontanu, Bucharest 2nd District mayor, were published on 19 October 2010. Pictures of Bucurica at the launch of USP (UNPR's center-left political platform) were published on 21 December 2011. It is alleged that demonstrators vandalised a route from Union Square to Tineretului Park (the largest park in Bucharest's 4th District).


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Cristian Popescu Piedone, the mayor of the 4th District had resigned from office in the Conservative Party (PC), (part of USL) and intended to contest the mayoral election as a UNPR candidate. Piedone later said,


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
We should not turn this case into a political one and parties that want to profit from these events will probably have to explain themselves.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Gabriel Oprea, Defense Minister in the Boc Government and president of UNPR said,


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
It is pure demagogy, there is no connection between the people that were there and UNPR.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
George Becali, owner of Steaua Bucharest football club, stated that among the hooligans involved in the events, there were Steaua Bucharest ultras led by Catalin Zisu, a general in the Ministry of National Defence of Romania. General Catalin Zisu declined to comment on Becali's allegations although he might have known about them.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Small groups of ultras were led by Tararache Marius, Țintă Claudiu from Dinamo Bucharest and Denescu Alexandru Mihai from Steaua Bucharest. On 17 January 2012, Mihai Capatana was arrested for 29 days for vandalism in connection with the events.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 16 January 2012, protestors in large numbers gathered again at University Square, Bucharest. Police kept the peace. The Gendarmerie monitored key locations in Bucharest such as subway access points. They stopped demonstrators carrying weapons into the University area as well as arresting those with weapons at the rallies. No significant violent events took place. Around 23:20 local time, on Brătianu Boulevard, gendarmes surrounded around 70 ultras, heading towards the University Square. They were asked to identify themselves and subsequently loaded onto trucks.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Demonstrators from Union Square, Cluj-Napoca, whose number reached about 600, initiated an evening march through the city center, chanting anti-government and anti-presidential slogans and carrying large Romanian flags.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 17 January, protests in Bucharest continued. Hundreds of people gathered in the middle of the day with numbers rising towards the evening. Prime Minister Boc invited the USL opposition alliance to talks to be held the following day at the Palace of Parliament. The co-presidents of the USL, PNL leader Crin Antonescu and Social Democratic Party leader Victor Ponta, announced the agenda. The first item was the immediate resignation of the Democratic Liberal Party Government of Emil Boc and early elections. Protests took place in 60 other Romanian cities involving over 5,000 people.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Arafat returned to his former position as under-secretary of state. He declared that his initial resignation was because of the health bill and since the bill was revoked, he could resume his role. He also stressed that the protesters no longer referenced him specifically and he would not make any further comment about the protests.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
In Constanţa, building safety inspectors (an agency of the Ministry of Regional Development) visited City Hall to question the Mayor, Radu Ştefan Mazăre, about the legality of a number of tents he set up near the protesters' location. These tents were serving protesters with hot tea. In response to the investigation, Radu Mazăre expelled the inspectors and joined the protesters in the street. He thus became the first politician to join the demonstrators. He has stated that his presence was not as Mayor or politician, but as a citizen.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
In Alexandria, Teleorman County, hundreds of people, including unemployed citizens, pensioners, civil servants and trade unionists protested on the plaza of the House of Culture. They were joined by dozens of people coming from Roşiori de Vede by bus. As well as demanding Băsescu's resignation, the people also called for the resignation of the county prefect, Teodor Niţulescu.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
19 January 2012 was one of the most violent days of the protests. Between 1,500 and 20,000 people gathered in central Bucharest. Revolutionaries, young people, office workers, members of the USL, gendarmes, football fans and politicians gathered in University Square. Protesters at University Square threw bottles and stones at the gendarmes. 30 to 40 protesters were arrested. In Arch of Triumph Square a USL meeting was organized. The participants were greeted with hostility by protesters from the University Square, Ludovic Orban being pushed and booed by them.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 23 January, over 3,000 people demonstrated in several cities. Teodor Baconschi, the foreign minister tendered his resignation after having called the protesters "clueless and inept slum dwellers".


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
Lieutenant Gheorghe Alexandru, aged 27, a member of Air 71 Flotilla Câmpia Turzii, arrived in uniform among the protesters in University Square in Bucharest. He chose to join demonstrators in Bucharest out of "respect for his nation" and to demonstrate that "the Army did not leave". He acknowledged that there would be consequences for him.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 24 January, on the twelfth day of (mostly non-violent) protests continued in Victory Square. Some entered the TVR public television headquarters accusing the broadcaster of censorship. Băsescu spoke about the protests.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, First phase
On 25 January 2012, the protests continued despite inclement weather. Băsescu addressed the nation to give reassurance. He advised he would not resign unless it became the only obvious solution to the political crisis. He promised to act on the reform referendum of 2009.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, Second phase
From 24 April to 1 May 2012, thousands of people from the three historical regions – Moldavia, Transylvania and Wallachia – attended the protest march "Give my Romania back!". The protest march was organized similarly to the Wallachian uprising of 1821, with starting points in Brăila, Ploiești, Galați, Constanța, Sibiu, Deva, Arad, Brad, Brașov, Craiova, Slatina and the final destination in University Square (Bucharest). The participants demanded, among many other claims, the resignation of President Traian Băsescu and the Ungureanu Cabinet.


2012 Romanian protests, Course of the protests, Second phase
In early July, demonstrations took place in several locations in Bucharest. Hundreds of Romanians, among them former Prime Minister Ungureanu, gathered in front of the Romanian Government building demanding Ponta's resignation in light of the plagiarism scandal. Others protested in the University Square against a variety of issues, including shale gas extraction, corruption in the Romanian Professional Football League and also against Romanian politicians in general. On 6 July, President Băsescu was suspended by the Romanian Parliament. Pro -USL supporters in their hundreds gathered in University Square to show their support for the move.


2012 Romanian protests, Reactions
Initially, the government made no comment on the January protests. The first official comment came from Boc on 16 January 2012. He said the protests were threatening Romania's economic stability and that a new law of Public Health was being drafted. He further stated that freedom of speech is guaranteed, but that street violence was unacceptable. On 17 January 2012, Boc said,


2012 Romanian protests, Reactions
Other PDL party members criticised the protests. Senator Iulian Urban said pro-Arafat protesters were,


2012 Romanian protests, Reactions
Baconschi said the protests were,instigated by the opposition"and compared them to the Mineriads of the 1990s. Sever Voinescu-Cotoi, a PDL spokesman, said the protesters were 'neurotic'  and suggested they watch The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, a Romanian film about the country's healthcare system. Romanians abroad organized peaceful protests in Lisbon, Madrid, Zaragoza, Paris, Strasbourg, Brussels, The Hague, London, Dublin, Aarhus, Berlin, Vienna, Trieste, Padua, Rome and Chișinău.


2012 Romanian protests, Reactions
The United States has asked the Romanian authorities and people to avoid the violence that has spread in mid-January throughout the country, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Victoria Nuland announced at a press briefing, on 20 January.


2012 Romanian protests, Reactions
The Bucharest Gendarmerie chief, Brigadier General Eugen Meran, was dismissed, on 11 January 2013, for mismanagement. The reason for his dismissal is the abuses committed by his subordinates during the protests in January 2012 in the University Square.


2012 Romanian protests, Consequences
On the evening of 13 January 2012, Băsescu urged Boc to abandon the health bill. He said,


2012 Romanian protests, Consequences
There are many who are satisfied with the health system and that reform is not wanted by anyone in the system, except for some doctors.


2012 Romanian protests, Consequences
On 17 January 2012, Arafat returned to his government office. On 6 February 2012, Boc and his government resigned. Băsescu nominated Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu to form a new government. On 1 February 2012, law 220/2011 created a co-pay service. Romanian citizens do purchase health insurance, but the co-pay system involves a means tested "gap" fee for basic consults. Emergency healthcare remains free. The new public health law allows the state to sponsor private medical institutions that provide emergency health care. However, as Raed Arafat warned, the government sponsorship does not guarantee a minimum level of emergency healthcare to all patients and government support would also be diverted from the public sector.


2012 Romanian protests, Consequences
For all that, two months later, Romania's government has been unseated in a no-confidence vote. The opposition seized on public anger over austerity measures to oust prime minister Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu. The centre-right coalition had cut salaries and raised sales tax to try to put the economy on a more sound footing. Romanian President Traian Băsescu designated left-wing opposition leader Victor Ponta as new prime minister.


2012 Romanian protests, Consequences
In 2003, Ponta completed a thesis titled International criminal court. It was republished with a co-author in 2004. A further academic piece was produced in 2012 (Responsibility under international humanitarian law) where Coman was cited first. A number of Romanian academics made allegations of plagiarism against Ponta to the science periodical, Nature. They included Vlad Perju and Paul Dragos Aligica (Romanian political scientists holding academic positions in the United States) and Marius Andruh (president of the Romanian council for the recognition of university diplomas). Ponta denied wrongdoing and accused President Traian Băsescu of formulating the allegations against him. In turn, Ponta called for Băsescu's departure, citing his announcement of wage cuts and tax increases in 2012 as actions beyond his constitutional remit.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Miners
On 8 March 2012, over 5,000 miners gathered in front of the National Coal Company headquarters. They expressed anger and determination. The miners blocked the entrance to Petroşani (Hunedoara County), on DN66. Protestors in Bucharest booed Băsescu as he spoke from the balcony of the Palace of Parliament. Protestors shouted,


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Miners
At least five protesters were removed after which Băsescu continued.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Miners
On 3 October, several NGO "Regeneration" activists gathered in front of Government, and four of them chained and handcuffed themselves to the main entrance gate into Victoria Palace, accusing the government supports the mining with cyanide and has not taken any measures to prevent situations, such as granting the environmental permit for mining project in Certej. Minister Delegate for Social Dialogue, Liviu Pop, on the way to the government meeting, stopped to talk with protesters and asked them to submit official documents which they have transmitted to the Government with these problems.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Miners
One of the protesters was chained to the gate of the Government with a steel bicycle antitheft device, that gendarmes tried to cut with a hacksaw blade, but without success. They would then cut device with a flex, but by the station were advised to abandon this idea, because of the risk that the protester can be hurt. Finally, gendarmes requested the intervention of the fire crew, who managed to cut the device with a pneumatic extrication device. On 9 December, simultaneously with the legislative election, took place, in 35 localities in Alba County, a referendum on restarting mining in the Apuseni Mountains.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Miners
The protests of miners in Jiu Valley continued the next year. Thus, on 11 January 2013, at least 307 miners blocked themselves in Lupeni coal mine, refusing to leave the workplace at the end of the program, because they were dissatisfied with salaries that were reduced due to non-fulfillment of the productivity plan.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Exploitation of shale gas
On 21 March 2012, thousands of people protested in Bârlad (Vaslui County) against the American company Chevron that mines shale gas in Romania. Constantin Constantinescu of the Bârlad City Hall, petitioned against the use of hydraulic fracture mining of gas. Four days after the protests that took place in the center of Bârlad, attended by over 5,000 people, Chevron Corporation representatives expressed their official position regarding the techniques they will use in exploration and exploitation of shale gas in northeastern Romania.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Exploitation of shale gas
"We understand the concerns about shale gas production in Romania and we believe that after Chevron will present accurate information resulting from research, Romanians will understand that natural gas from shale is a clean energy source and that can be produced responsibly and safely", said in a press release Tom Holst, Chevron Romania country manager.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Exploitation of shale gas
The protests continued in the following months. Thus, thousands of people gathered in Bârlad Civic Center to protest against shale gas extraction through hydraulic fractionation. The protest was preceded by two marches that have left simultaneously from Ready-made clothing manufactory and Public Garden areas. Protesters were joined by employees from the Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection arrived from Vaslui, priests and inhabitants of neighboring villages of Bârlad. During protest, priests sang "Christ is risen! ", and people sang the anthem of Romania. There have been attempts on social networks to mobilize people to come to the protest. They say they want and a clean air and environment.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Exploitation of shale gas
Two thousand people marched peacefully, on 14 September, in the city of Bârlad, with lit candles and lamps, led by priests in the area. They oppose the exploitation of shale gas through hydraulic fracturing method, which U.S. company Chevron would begin in the county.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Exploitation of shale gas
On 27 February 2013, more than 7,000 citizens protested in Bârlad against exploitation of shale gas. The march, organized by the Bârlad Civil Society Initiative Group, gathered representatives of Bârlad and surrounding parishes, environmental activists, FC Vaslui gallery representatives, but also citizens who are against the exploitation of shale gas through hydraulic fracturing method by the American company Chevron.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Exploitation of shale gas
On 4 April 2013, tens of thousands of people protested in more than 20 cities across the country under the slogan "Romania says no hydraulic fracturing". The protests were organized by over 80 non-governmental organizations. Protesters demanded the cancellation of Government decisions through which were approved the agreements of exploration, development and exploitation issued to Chevron, East West Petroleum and Clara Petroleum.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Football
On 24 March 2012, 200 supporters of FC Universitatea Craiova joined supporters of FC Dinamo București and FC Rapid București to protest in front of the Palace of the Parliament. They opposed the decision of the Executive Committee of FRF to disaffiliate them. The gendarmes used tear gas. Over 37 people were arrested.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Football
Over 2,000 supporters of FC Universitatea Cluj gathered, on 7 September, on Heroes Boulevard (Cluj-Napoca) to support their team. Armed with scarves, banners, flags supporters protested against the manner in which Anamaria Prodan leads club. Subsequently, Anamaria Prodan said that the team will remain in Cluj-Napoca and that used the announcement that moves it in Buzău to take out the fans in the street and, thus, to persuade local authorities to support the club she leads.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Dockworkers
On 9 April 2012, over 100 employees of the National Company of Maritime Ports Administration Constanța gathered in the company's courtyard and blocked entrances to the company's headquarters. They demanded the resignation of Aurelian Popa, the director. When Popa arrived, his path was blocked and he was pelted with eggs and yoghurt. The gendarmes intervened.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Dockworkers
The employees' protests continued. They cited abuse of power and breaches of the collective agreement. At times the protests became violent with some arrested.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Revolutionaries
Dozens of revolutionaries protested, on 8 October, in front of the headquarters of the PSD alongside the weekly meeting of the party, requesting the dismissal of Secretary of State Sorin Meșter and the solving of revolutionaries' situation. They also booed and heckled the former head of state Ion Iliescu. They chanted "Down with Iliescu! ", "PSD without Iliescu!" and requested that a representative of the party leadership to come to talks. "You can not mock us! What are we, dogs? We became beggars! ", revolutionaries told to Iliescu. They also said that they want the returning of rights taken improperly.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Revolutionaries
Former head of state told the revolutionaries that former Prime Minister Emil Boc has removed these rights. Three protesters needed medical care, after they had felt bad. The three revolutionaries have a precarious health status after they decided to go on hunger strike, until will be resumed the payment of indemnities from the Government.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Interethnical disputes, Hungarian minority
On 1 September, some 25,000 Hungarians protested in Sfântu Gheorghe, after, on 22 August, PCM Covasna leadership urged Hungarians to participate in large number at protest against the sentence for restitution of "Székely Mikó" College, occasion to also manifest for Székely Land autonomy. In the declaration at the beginning of the manifest, which was read by Kató Béla, auxiliary bishop of the Reformed Diocese of Transylvania, was shown that Hungarians across Romania protest against the injustice suffered by this community.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Interethnical disputes, Hungarian minority
At the end of the manifest, protesters have made claims in five points, they requesting, among others, consistent implementation of the rule of law and urgent realization of restitutio in integrum. Thus, were created tensions between the Hungarian community in Romania and Romanians, as much, on 6 October, approximately 50 members of the New Right movement participated, in Arad, at a march against "Hungarian irredentism" and to commemorate the Romanian heroes of the Revolution of 1848–1849.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Interethnical disputes, Hungarian minority
The action took place in protest of manifests regarding the commemoration of Hungarian heroes of the Revolution of 1848–1849, held on the same day in Romanian-Hungarian Reconciliation Park in Arad and attended by over 500 people, including representatives of UDMR, headed by President Kelemen Hunor, guests from Budapest and local authorities.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Interethnical disputes, Roma minority
After 2010, many Romanian citizens of Roma ethnicity emigrated to the Western Europe, so, in summer 2012, 15,000 Romanies lived in France. Most of Romanies obligated their children to panhandle in crowded areas of the capital, Paris. During the 2012 elections, Claude Guéant, former French Minister of the Interior, intensified his campaign to remove Roma from visible places. He prohibited begging on Champs-Élysées and in other tourist areas of Paris.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Interethnical disputes, Roma minority
In August 2012, the Socialist government of François Hollande began evicting and dismantling Roma camps and deporting Roma. A charter plane flew 240 Gypsies, including their children, to Romania, from Lyon. According to Manuel Valls, Minister of the Interior, the evictions were based on sanitary concerns and tensions with working class neighbours.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Interethnical disputes, Roma minority
Inasmuch as the situation has not improved, Minister of the Interior of France, Manuel Valls, and Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Bernard Cazeneuve, visited Romania on 12 September, to discuss with the authorities in Bucharest the matter of social inclusion of Romanian citizens of Roma ethnicity. On this occasion, a bilateral cooperation agreement was signed on this subject.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Interethnical disputes, Roma minority
Irritated by this visit, over 500 Roma protested in front of the Cotroceni Palace, after they also chanted in front of the Government premises. Organizers, dissatisfied with the lack of interest and action of Roma inclusion Executive, specified that the protest is directly related to French Ministers visit to Romania. President of the Civic Democratic Alliance of Roma, Marian Daragiu, specified for Mediafax that protest aims to draw attention, first and foremost, of the Romanian Government, that it can not apprehend in Roma issue only when somebody twitches it. Likewise, he catalogued as "racist" the assertion of French Minister of the Interior, Manuel Valls, pursuant to that France "can not get all the garbage in the world and Europe".


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Local parliament electoral irregularities
During the 10 June local elections, residents of Curcani (Călărași County), protested after a candidate and four others wrecked a polling station and accosted voters. The candidate was arrested but the protestors alleged electoral irregularities. In Petrila (Hunedoara County), an old man tried to set himself on fire because of a land dispute. He was saved and hospitalised.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Suspended president reinstated
People have started to walk protesting in front of Cotroceni Palace after the decision of the Constitutional Court of Romania to reinstate the suspended president. The demonstrations degenerated in conflicts between the opposing groups: Băsescu's detractors and Băsescu's sympathizers.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Suspended president reinstated
The Constitutional Group "Timișoara", coordinated by Lorin Fortuna, considers that Romania, after a politically agitated summer, is not state of law, sovereign and independent. The group proposes an action plan, by that the Romanian people recovers its sovereignty. The plan, called "Justice for Romania! ", includes several points, starting from the establishment of a national civic organization, which will organize large popular movements and will result in replacing the current president, unworthy and illegitimate, according to GCT, through a popular action similar to that of 1989.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
Privatization of Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea was requested by Romania's creditors: International Monetary Fund, World Bank and European Commission. The company doesn't have the financial resources to even pay its employees, and discussions with banks, in early-September, with an eye to supporting the company, didn't lead to any results. Chemical plant needs each month, about 40 million to operate. But, because debts, energy distributor Electrica announced the company that, starting on 15 September, it halts supplying electricity. Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea has debts of 2.6 billion lei, while its losses in recent years amounted to 1.2 billion lei.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
According to Remus Vulpescu, former leader of the Office of State Ownership and Privatization in Industry, plant losses amounted to €7-million per month, of which €3-million are just wages. The Romanian state is the majority shareholder, controlling 54.8% of the share capital of the company. The second largest shareholder of Oltchim is the German group PCC, holding a package of 18.31 percent of the shares. According to employees, German group would follow plant's closing. The plant's 3,500 employees are on strike for several weeks, while 15 of them are on hunger strike.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
Companies interested in acquiring Oltchim participated on 17 September at an auction, from which it emerged victorious Dan Diaconescu, a domestic politician and owner of OTV television station. Remus Vulpescu announced that, in terms of price, the bidder Dan Diaconescu obtained the highest number of scores for individual purchase on assets at Oltchim. Dan Diaconescu's offering to take over Oltchim is 203 million lei.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
On 1 October, Dan Diaconescu brought seven bags of money at the gate of the Ministry of Economy. OTV owner declined to say how much money has in bags, resuming to assert that "very many" and enough to pay Oltchim plant employees' wages until the end of the year. Gendarmes guarding the Ministry of Economy did not allow him the access to the institution with bags of money. So at around 7:10 pm, Dan Diaconescu entered in the Ministry of Economy, but without bags of money.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
After more than an hour of discussions, Minister of Economy said that the contract for Oltchim privatization wasn't signed. Likewise, Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced that Oltchim privatization was canceled, claiming that auction winner hasn't the money to take over Oltchim, people that he latter has announced that are guarantors doesn't exist.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
Ministry of Economy announced, on 3 October, that Office of State Ownership and Privatization in Industry shall notify the Prosecutor regarding the committing by Dan Diaconescu of misdemeanor of deception through repeated by misleading and for acquisition without right of quality of contractor of Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea chemical plant. The notification was sent via e-mail.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
On 12 November, indignant workers resumed the protests. This time, the manifestations escalated to thrusts between protesters and representatives of the plant. Six employees went on hunger strike, saying that will not give up until will be paid them the remaining wages.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Oltchim S.A. scandal
On 14 February 2013, hundreds of Oltchim employees protested in front of the Ministry of Economy headquarters, on the ground that they didn't receive wages for two months. At least 24 employees went on hunger strike. Two of them needed medical care.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Brăila demonstrations
On 4 October, six employees of CET Brăila went on a hunger strike, the protest being carried out even in the company's office, and other two hundred chanted in the institution courtyard, on the ground that they didn't receive, for the last three months, wages and food stamps. CET Free Trade Union leader, Gheorghiță Pîrlog, said that people have to receive 65 million old lei. Likewise, he called the 5,000 subscribers of CET Brăila for protest in the coming days, whereas the future of centralized heating system is uncertain this winter.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Arad–Nădlac motorway protests and Romstrade scandal
The company Romstrade entered in a scandal, after its administrator, Nelu Iordache, changed, without observing the legal provisions, the destination of 25,000,000 lei, money encashed for the design and execution of the first section of Arad–Nădlac motorway, work being funded at least 85% from the Cohesion Fund of the European Union. The greater part, namely 9,724,780 lei of the amount intended for motorway construction, was to be used to pay debts of companies in which he was directly concerned, payments made under contracts that are not related to performance of the contract for motorway. Another 9,861,000 lei were withdrawn in cash for the acquisition of land in the commune of Adunații-Copăceni, based on fictitious sales and purchase pre-contracts. In this way, the Bucharest Court Magistrates decided the arresting for 29 days of businessman Nelu Iordache.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, Arad–Nădlac motorway protests and Romstrade scandal
On 16 November, dozens of mortar mixers and excavators blocked the site on section 1 of A1 motorway, in protest against unpaid wages from the company Romstrade. About 100 workers got into hunger strike and threatened that they would not resume the work until four months' outstanding salaries were paid. On 6 December, dozens of workers outraged that they had not received the money for salaries protested in front of the Romstrade headquarters in Bucharest.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Unpaid wages, CFR lockout
Some of the CFR Călători employees triggered a spontaneous strike, on 16 January 2013, dissatisfied that they have not received full wages for December 2012. 138 trains were blocked in six big railway stations in the country.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Indifference of authorities
On 10 September, two men came, in front of Sector 5 City Hall, with a gas tank and threatened to self-immolate, dissatisfied that they were not received in audience by Mayor Marian Vanghelie. They were quickly immobilized by local police. One of the protesters was taken to the Police for hearings. The other one accused cardiac pains and received medical care, but he died in Colţea Hospital, although medical crews tried to resuscitate him.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Indifference of authorities
On 30 October, a man armed with an ax and a knife threatened more persons in a post office in Drumul Taberei neighborhood (Bucharest), not leaving them to leave the unit. The man was restrained by policemen, this being led to Bucharest Police Station for hearings. A post office employee was taken in shock at Bucharest Emergency University Hospital. Both the perpetrator and his accomplice received arrest warrants for 29 days. The man that entered armed in the post office demanded the "annexation of Romania to Moldova" and "fees that in Italy", according to sources close to the investigation.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Indifference of authorities
On 18 November, dozens of young people protested in University Square against citizens homophobic attacks and indifference of the authorities in these situations. The protest included a die-in and comes shortly after many participants in the spectacle "From the Gay History Tabs" were attacked in Bucharest.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Farmers
About two thousand farmers and agricultural producers protested, on 7 November, in front of the Government. They reclaimed the indifference with which agriculture is treated by state representatives and demanded the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture, Daniel Constantin. The protest degenerated in conflicts between protesters and law enforcement. Protesters threw fences in policemen. Gendarmes dispersed the crowd with tear gas. The road traffic was halted tens of minutes in the area. An ambulance was requested at the meeting of farmers in Victory Square to provide medical care for a protester which was attacked during the gendarmes intervention. At least four people were arrested.


2012 Romanian protests, Other protests, Farmers
Around 300 farmers protested, on 28 December, and organized a march with tractors and agricultural machinery on Nădlac city streets, being dissatisfied that, because Nădlac-Arad motorway section, they can not reach much of the agricultural land. At the protest were brought over 150 tractors, combines and agricultural machinery, and protesters staged a "funeral" of local agriculture.


2012 Rome Rampage season
The 2012 Rome Rampage season was the first season for the United Indoor Football League (UIFL) franchise.


2012 Rome Rampage season
On March 5, 2011, it was announced that indoor American football would be returning to Rome, Georgia in the form of the Rome River Dogs. On May 24, 2011, the River Dogs announced that they would be changing their name to the Rome Rampage, and that they would be playing at the Forum Civic Center. On May 31, 2011, the Rampage introduced Joe Micco as the franchise's first ever head coach.


2012 Rose Bowl
The 2012 Rose Bowl, the 98th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Monday, January 2, 2012 at the same-named stadium in Pasadena, California. The Oregon Ducks of the Pac-12 Conference beat the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference, 45–38, for their first Rose Bowl win in 95 years.


2012 Rose Bowl
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel, who tossed the game coin by their representative Grand Marshal J.R. Martinez. Because of sponsorship by Vizio, the first game in the 2012 edition of the Bowl Championship Series was officially titled the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO. The contest was televised on ESPN with a radio broadcast on ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio, which began at 1:30 PM (PST) with kickoff at 2:10 PM (PST).


2012 Rose Bowl
The Rose Bowl Game, themed Just Imagine ..., was a contractual sell-out, with 64,500 tickets allocated to the participating teams and conferences. The remaining tickets went to the Tournament of Roses members, sponsors, City of Pasadena residents, and the general public. On September 8, 2011, Executive Director P. Scott McKibben resigned for personal reasons. William B. Flinn, the Tournament’s longstanding chief operating officer, assumed the role of interim executive director.


2012 Rose Bowl, Pre-game activities
The game was presided over by the 2012 Royal Court and the Grand Marshal, J.R. Martinez. Members of the Royal Court are Queen Drew Helen Washington, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; Sarah Nicole Zuno, Benjamin Franklin High School; Cynthia Megan Louie, La Salle High School; Morgan Eliza Devaud, La Canada High School; Kimberly Victoria Ostiller, Flintridge Preparatory School; Hanan Bulto Worku, Pasadena High School, and Stephanie Grace Hynes, Maranatha High School.


2012 Rose Bowl, Pre-game activities
After the teams' arrival in Southern California, the teams participated in the traditional Lawry's Beef Bowl in Beverly Hills and the Disney Media Day at Disneyland in nearby Anaheim. The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony luncheon was held on December 31, 2011 at the Pasadena Convention Center. The inductees were Ron Dayne, MVP of the 1999 and 2000 games from the University of Wisconsin; Dick Enberg, former NBC broadcaster; and George Fleming, the 1960 co-MVP (with Bob Schloredt, who was inducted in 1991) from the University of Washington.


2012 Rose Bowl, Pre-game activities
The bands and cheerleaders from both schools participated in the early morning Rose Parade on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California along with the floats, featuring stars and giant helmets, from the two conferences.


2012 Rose Bowl, Teams
Teams playing in the Rose Bowl game were the winners of the Pac-12 and Big Ten conference championship games, unless one team (or both teams) play in the BCS National Championship game. The teams were officially selected by the football committee of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association on Selection Sunday on December 4, 2011.


2012 Rose Bowl, Teams
The Oregon Ducks, winners of the Pac-12 Championship game, represented the Pac-12 Conference, while the Wisconsin Badgers represented the Big Ten after winning the Big Ten Championship Game. Entering the game, the Badgers lead the series 3–1 over the Ducks, winning in 1977, 1978 and 2000. In 2001, Oregon, coached by Mike Bellotti defeated Wisconsin 31–28 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene Oregon. Both teams had their pre-game practices at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.


2012 Rose Bowl, Teams, Oregon
The Ducks were led by LaMichael James in scoring with 19 touchdowns and 114 points in 11 games. Oregon was ranked 3rd in the nation in points scored (46.2 points per game) and 5th in rushing yards (295.7). Coming into the game, Oregon had held opponents to 23.6 points per game and allowed 243.5 yards in pass defense and 137.5 yards per game in rush defense. Combining the rushing yardage with the passing offense of 219.5 yards per game, the Ducks had a total offense of 515.2 yards per game.