Nicușor Dan, reaction after the violence at the protest in Victory Square: “I condemn such actions in the strongest terms”

President Nicușor Dan condemned, on Tuesday, the violence that occurred during the protest by farmers and livestock breeders in Victory Square, Bucharest, after a group of demonstrators forced through the gendarmes’ cordon and clashes broke out.

The head of state described the incidents as “extremely serious” and called for the attacks, assaults, and acts of vandalism to be punished in accordance with the law. He stressed that no grievance can justify endangering other citizens and condemned any attempt to turn a legitimate protest into street fighting.

Nicușor Dan also criticized incitement to violence, as well as the involvement of certain politicians who, he claims, are exacerbating social tensions and attempting to hijack the demonstration. The president reaffirmed the right to freedom of expression and protest, guaranteed by the Constitution, but warned that hate speech, including that propagated online, can have serious effects in real life.

The protest began against the backdrop of discontent among farmers and livestock breeders from several regions of the country.

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