The protest against austerity measures organised by the great unions in Bucharest in Piata Victoriei on Wednesday, May 19, is over. The participants - 50,000 according to the organisers, 30,000 according to the Gendarmeries' estimates - have left the square. But unions threaten to call general strike on May 31. The protest, assisted by approximately 1,200 cops and gendarmes, was well organised, so that not unexpected events interfered.
The protest began earlier than authorised by the city's council (11am local time) and finished around 13:30. During the protest, several protesters had to be transported to the Floreasca Emergency Hospital and other twenty-two had to receive care in the two first aid tents set up for emergency cases, according to SMURD doctor Constantin Oletanu, Mediafax informs.
UPDATE 13:25 Unions threat with calling a general strike on May 31: "The last message is the general strike on May 31", a shout from the tribune announced.
13:20: A Romanian artist is performing a hip-hop protest song on the stage
13:10: Around 15,000 protesters remained in Piata Victoriei
12:54: A group of policemen, union members, are shouting at the Government: "Thieves!" and threw their caps on the walkway in front of the Government’s building.
12:45: Little by little, small groups of protesters leave Piata Victoriei. The authorisation for protest expires at 1 pm.
12:30: The atmosphere in Piata Victoriei is relatively calm. No tension to lead to potential violence. Many protesters seem tired after the long journey to Bucharest and the standing.
UPDATE 11.55 HotNews reporters estimate a number of approximately 30,000 protesters
UPDATE 11.50 Spiru Haret Union Federation president Marius Nistor
We are in Piata Victoriei [Victory Squate], [the square] of victory against