Over 10,000 people at the pro-EU rally in Victoriei Square

More than 10,000 people protested in Victoriei Square on Saturday evening at the “EuRo Manifest” rally. The event saw the reading of the Manifesto for Europe, a document supported by civic organizations from the country and the diaspora, as well as thousands of people from various fields of activity.

The demonstration was organized as a sign of support for Romania’s membership in the EU and to protest against the ultranationalist current, the organizers said. “Europe unites us, extremism strikes us”.

Demonstrations of support also took place in other cities in the country, such as Iași or Timișoara. Several dozen people also gathered in the Belgian capital, Brussels, to express their solidarity with the demonstrations in Romania.

Choreography with the “European heart”

People formed a heart, made of blue sheets like the EU flag, which they illuminated with their phone flashlights. In the background, the “Ode to Joy”, the EU anthem, was heard.

In Victory Square, the “Ode to Joy”, the official anthem of the European Union, was also sung. At the end, people applauded. At the same time, from time to time, the crowd chanted “Romania-Europe”. The demonstrators also applauded those who are now protesting in Belgrade.

Also from the stage, the message “Love for the country is not legionary” was transmitted, and people were urged to get this message too.

Over 200 people attended the “EuRo Manifest” rally in Iaşi’s Unirii Square. Participants came to the center of Iaşi with flags of Romania and the European Union. People chanted, among others, “Democracy, Not Tyranny”, “No Extremism”, “Romania is Smart, We Don’t Vote for the Far Right”, “We Want to Be in Europe, Not in the Middle Ages” and “Putin Wants to Divide Us, Europe Supports Us”. Daniela Mitrofan, president of the RESET Iaşi organization, told the participants that she never wants communism to return to Romania and that if Romanians were not in the European Union they would be much poorer.

Supporters of Călin Georgescu identified nearby 

Supporters of Călin Georgescu were identified in the area near the demonstration, the Gendarmerie reported, which also appealed to the participants in the demonstration not to respond to provocations from people with different opinions.

“We also appeal to the organizer, its representatives and the participants in today’s public assembly not to respond to provocations from people with different opinions and to inform the law enforcement agencies about their presence. At the same time, we reiterate that pre-filtering devices are in place on the routes that converge towards the public assembly venue, and the gendarmes will authenticate and control people with bulky luggage,” the cited source said.

The Gendarmerie specified that this measure is preventive in nature and is adopted for the protection of all participants and other citizens.