There have been no incidents up until 16.00 local time, but traffic had been halted in front of the Parliament’s building. Protesters plan to march later on through Bucharest towards the Victory Square, to continue the demonstration in front of the government’s building.
A pro-government manifestation was also taking place in the vicinity, with approximately 50 participants asking for the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis.
The protest was announced by anticorruption activists after learning the date of the vote, with opposition parties supporting it and calling for sympathizers to join in. A local advertising agency accused the state-owned CEC Bank on social media of terminating a contract they had, because it publicly announced that it will give the day off to employees who want to take part in the protest.
A no-confidence motion against Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila was initiated by the Liberal Party, garnering the support of opposition parties USR and PMP, and scheduled for debates and vote on Wednesday.
Opposition parties accuse the Government of being at fault for Romania reaching a record 5.4% inflation rate in June of 2018 and also of growing the country’s public debt, without initiating notable infrastructure projects.
They also accuse the PSD-ALDE coalition government of trying to politically subjugate magistrates through their proposed judicial reforms, of ignoring investments into education and research and of failing to properly reform Romania’s health system.
As of Wednesday, 16.00 local time, debates on the motion were still ongoing, with both opposition initiators and Prime Minister Viorica Dancila having made statements to the assembled plenary.