The European Commission is concerned over violence toward participants of the recent anti-government rallies in Romania, European Commission Coordinating Spokesperson Christian Spahr said on Thursday.
BRUSSELS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2018) The European Commission is concerned over violence toward participants of the recent anti-government rallies in Romania, European Commission Coordinating Spokesperson Christian Spahr said on Thursday.
"In the context of the cooperation and verification mechanism process, the commission is following the developments with concern, and attaches great importance to the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption ... Violence can never be a solution in politics," he said at a press briefing, when he was asked whether the commission was going to start a rule of law process regarding the matter.
On August 10 and 11, Bucharest saw mass anti-government protests over unpopular tax, pension and social security reforms. Tens of thousands of protesters called for the dissolution of the parliament, a snap election, an establishment of a unicameral parliament with 300 senators, and also for closer coordination with the European Union and NATO.
According to Romanian Prosecutor's Office, around 30 protesters lodged complaints over security forces' violent actions, namely, using water cannons and spraying tear gas into the crowd. A number of journalists reported violence toward them as well. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis responded by calling on the country's prosecution to investigate the matter.
