Introduction
Romania's 2024 Super Election Year: Key Developments and Outcomes
In a pivotal election year, Romania experienced significant political activity with local, mayoral, and European elections all held on 9th June 2024. The ruling coalition, comprising the Social Democrats (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL), solidified its dominance by securing nearly 50% of the votes for their joint list in the European elections. The PSD won 11 seats, while the PNL secured eight seats in the European Parliament, marking a shift in the coalition's internal balance of power.
In the local and mayoral elections, partial results indicated PSD leading with 39%, followed by PNL with 30%, and the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) gaining nearly 9%. The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) held around 6%, while the pro-Western Alliance of the United Right (ADU) secured less than 3%.
EC Rule of Law Report on Romania
The European Commission's latest Rule of Law report, published in late July 2024, criticised Romania's slow legislative response to corruption cases and its lack of progress on transparency in political lobbying and public media governance. The report assessed four key areas: the judicial system, anti-corruption efforts, press freedom and media pluralism, along with other factors related to institutional balance.
According to the report, while Romania has taken some steps to improve the justice system and tackle corruption within the judiciary, there are ongoing issues with political funding of private media and insufficient public consultations before legislative changes. The report urged Romania to enhance measures for independent media governance and transparency in political finance.
Former President Iliescu Questioned in Mineriada Case After 35 Years
On 26th April, 94-year-old former Romanian President Ion Iliescu was questioned by prosecutors regarding the ‘Mineriada case’. The charges against him involve orchestrating violent actions against civilians and demonstrators to suppress opposition to the newly formed post-communist government.
From 13th to 15th June 1990, under the leadership of President Iliescu, Prime Minister Petre Roman, and Deputy Prime Minister Gelu-Voican Voiculescu, the Romanian government violently suppressed protests in Bucharest's University Square. This crackdown resulted in four deaths, two rapes, over 1,300 injuries, and the unlawful detention of more than 1,200 people. The key figures involved now face accusations of committing crimes against humanity.
Peaceful Assembly
Protests Erupt Over Alleged Election Irregularities in Bucharest
On 15th June 2024, several dozen people gathered in Victory Square and outside the headquarters of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), demanding a recount of votes. The protest, supported by Clotilde Armand, mayor of Bucharest’s Sector 1, highlighted discrepancies between the number of voters and the ballots cast at several polling stations. Armand accused the authorities of electoral fraud and called for a recount, but the electoral bureau ultimately rejected the request, citing a lack of evidence.
Radu Mihau, the mayor of Bucharest’s Sector 2, also disputed the results and announced his intention to file a criminal complaint against the electoral office.
On 17th June 2024, the protests continued for a third consecutive day, with several hundred people gathering in Victory Square, demanding a recount in Sectors 1 and 2 and the resignation of AEP President Toni Greblă. Demonstrators, including Armand and the REPER party (Reînnoim Proiectul European al României, Renewing Romania's European Project) co-chair Dragoș Pîslaru, carried banners with slogans such as "Who did I vote for?" and "No to theft, yes to the recount."
Government Workers Protest for Fair Wages
On 13th May 2024, administrative staff from the General Secretariat of the Government, part of the executive branch led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, staged spontaneous protests near Victoria Palace, citing wage discrimination compared to other government sectors. On 14th May 2024, parliamentary unions expressed solidarity with the executive employees, highlighting that wages had remained unchanged for the past seven years and demanding a pay increase.
On 16th May 2024, members of the “MIPE Normalitate” union, representing employees from the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, protested outside the ministry building to demand equitable pay and improved working conditions.
On 22nd May 2024, executive employees continued their protests by symbolically leaving open umbrellas in their office hallways, with messages such as “10% is not enough” and “it’s raining inequality”. Commenting on his employee’s protests, Prime Minister Ciolacu stated that he could only offer a 10% wage. He also called on his cabinet to speed up reforms and reduce staff numbers by the end of next month, noting the “personnel structures” in the government and in parliament can be “more flexible,” and that the resulting savings can provide the funds to increase the salaries of those who deserve it.
Healthcare Professionals Protest for Fair Compensation
On 23rd April 2024, outpatient doctors regulated by the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAS) protested, warning they would refuse to sign contracts with the Chamber of Deputies unless consultation fees were increased to reflect rising expenses. They expressed concerns that patient care would suffer if their demands were not met.
On 31st May 2024, healthcare providers from outpatient clinics gathered in front of the government building to protest against the inadequate funding of their services. They criticised the underfunding of specialised clinics, warning that the financial strain could push many clinics towards bankruptcy.
Museum Workers Protest Threatens “Night of the Museums” Event
On 23rd April 2024, the CulturMedia union announced that its members would boycott the European “Night of the Museums” event on 18th May 2024 to protest delays in the government's promised financial measures.
The Night of the Museums is a cultural event that takes place across Europe, where museums and cultural institutions stay open late and offer free access to their exhibitions in order to attract a wider audience. The museum workers, who accuse the government of subjecting employees in the sector to “humiliating and discriminatory treatment” for 20 years, decided not to take part in this year’s event, emphasising that it was taking place at the weekend, during the employees’ free time.
The demonstration was organised by the CulturMedia Federation and CNS Cartel Alfa, who accused the Ministry of Culture of failing to address wage discrimination of museum and library workers. They emphasised the government's neglect of the cultural sector despite its public importance.
On 15th May 2024, Minister of Culture Raluca Turcan stated that salary increases for museum staff were under discussion and would be decided in a government meeting on 16th May 2024. However, several institutions, including the Grigore Antipa Museum, declared they would boycott the event to protest against low wages and in solidarity with their colleagues. Prime Minister Ciolacu criticised this decision, dismissing the protests as “blackmail” and expressing his willingness to accept the strikers’ offer to work at the event himself: “I’ll have a coffee and I’ll get through it. It’s not a problem.”
On 18th May 2024, around 200 museum and library workers protested in front of the Ministry of Culture and Victory Square, highlighting their grievances over low wages and insufficient funding. The glass of the main entrance to the Grigore Antipa museum, which only opened for its usual opening hours, was broken by an unknown person shortly after it closed.
Pilots call in sick as a form of protest
On 7th and 8th July 2024, pilots from Romanian airline TAROM called in sick, reportedly as part of a spontaneous strike. Many passengers were affected by the protest, as several of the airline's flights had to be cancelled. Minister of Transportation Sorin Grindeanu, called for urgent measures to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Freedom of Association
IOR-Titan Civic Initiative Fights to Preserve Park
The IOR-Titan Civic Initiative Group (GIC IOR-Titan) is actively working to restore and protect a 12-hectare section of IOR Park in Bucharest, located next to the Titan metro station. The initiative announced that it has sued Bucharest City Hall. The area has suffered from illegal deforestation and environmental degradation following its controversial restitution to Maria Cocoru, an 88-year-old woman, in 2005. The group maintains that the land was public property and should have remained public.
Efforts to address this issue date back to 2013, with local residents calling for legal and moral solutions to reintegrate the land into the park. GIC IOR-Titan has taken legal action, asking the Bucharest Municipal Court to declare the 2005 restitution null and void. In October 2023, Bucharest City Hall imposed a 35 million EUR fine on the park’s owners for removing trees and grass, thereby reducing green space. However, this fine was contested the following month. Concerns about potential forgery in the original restitution documents were raised by former prefect Rareș Hopincă in April 2024.
In response to the ongoing destruction of the park, GIC IOR-Titan has galvanised significant community support. In February 2023, after the new owners fenced off the area and began destroying the vegetation and cutting down trees, the group organised a large protest involving over 1,500 residents. With the support of Greenpeace Romania, an online petition gathered more than 21,000 signatures, demonstrating widespread public backing for the park's preservation.
Freedom of Expression
Online Backlash Following Rape Allegations Against Former VICE Romania Editor
On 20th May 2024, journalist Adina Florea publicly accused Razvan Baltaretu, former editor-in-chief of VICE Romania, of raping her in 2015 when she was 20 years old. On the same day, Baltaretu attended the Superscrieri awards ceremony, where VICE Romania journalists were being honoured. Florea, who now works for BIRN, stated on Facebook that she skipped the ceremony due to “having a problem seeing [her] award-winning rapist on stage.” On 22nd May 2024, HotNews reported that two other women had come forward with similar allegations against Baltaretu, but chose to remain anonymous. Baltaretu has denied the accusations, claiming that any sexual encounters were consensual.
In response to the allegations, HotNews and PressOne, two Romanian media outlets where Baltaretu had recently worked, terminated their collaborations with him. While Florea received support from some media organisations, she was also subjected to a wave of misogynistic abuse online. Negative comments questioning the timing of her allegations and making other derogatory remarks were posted on social media, as well as Romanian websites.
Energy Minister Calls for Action Over Deepfake Video
On 11th April 2024, it was announced that Romania’s Energy Minister, Sebastian Burduja, had urged the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) to take action after a deepfake video of him promoting a fake investment platform went viral. Burduja's complaint alleges fraud and dissemination of false information, emphasising the damage to his reputation and the potential risks to public trust and national security. The video falsely depicted Burduja’s image and voice, endorsing a non-existent investment platform. This incident is part of a pattern of deepfake attacks targeting Romanian public figures, including National Bank Governor Mugur Isărescu.
Romania lacks specific laws addressing such cyber scams. A proposed “Deepfake Law,” which includes significant fines and prison sentences of one to three years, has been controversial and is still awaiting parliamentary approval, as previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor.
Investigative Journalist Emilia Șercan Secures Initial Court Victory in Smear Campaign Case
On 22nd April 2024, Romanian investigative journalist Emilia Șercan, known for her work on corruption, fraud, abuse of power, and on plagiarism by major Romanian political figures, announced a "first victory in court" related to her harassment case. The High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ) decided to return the case to the General Prosecutor's Office after it had been classified and dismissed by the Bucharest Court of Appeals in November 2023. Șercan, who had protested for over two weeks against the dismissal, began facing harassment after exposing plagiarism in Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă's doctoral thesis on 18th January 2020. As previously reported by CIVICUS Monitor, this led to an ongoing smear campaign against her, including online harassment, phone threats, and a physical attack.
Media Freedom Challenges in Romania and the EU: Liberties’ 2024 Report Highlights Critical Issues
The 2024 Media Freedom Report by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) highlights a critical state of media freedom across several EU countries, with significant challenges observed.
According to the report, media freedom issues persist in Romania, worsened by allegations of censorship and a decline in editorial autonomy within national media. The report notes that substantial political spending on media advertising disproportionately benefits government-friendly outlets, raising concerns about press independence. Furthermore, civil society organisations advocating for transparency and accountability have faced growing pressure, leading to closures and a shrinking civic space in Romania.
MFRR Concerned About Election Coverage, SLAPPs and Protection for Journalists
After a mission to Romania on 17th and 18th June 2024, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) mechanism raised alarms over the state of media freedom in the country, highlighting significant concerns regarding the fairness of electoral coverage. The mission, conducted shortly after the European and local elections, found that Romanian media are heavily influenced by political party funding, leading to biassed reporting in favour of the governing coalition.
The MFRR noted that approximately 24 million EUR were spent on media-related political content in 2023, with this figure expected to rise significantly in 2024. The mission emphasised the lack of transparency surrounding these expenditures and the resulting distortion of the electoral landscape.
Additionally, the report highlighted the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to intimidate journalists and criticised the inadequate protection for journalists facing online harassment and threats. The MFRR called for urgent reforms, including stricter rules on political advertising transparency and the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act to ensure media independence and accountability in Romania.