Nicușor Dan condemns violence in Bucharest after farmers clash with police at government headquarters

Clashes erupt in Victoriei Square

Several thousand farmers, sheep breeders, and livestock producers from various regions across Romania gathered in Bucharest on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, to conduct a demonstration outside the government headquarters in Victoriei Square. The gathering turned volatile when demonstrator groups attempted to force the law enforcement perimeter surrounding the government building. Gendarmes assigned to secure the premises deployed tear gas to halt the advance and push crowds away from entry points. Physical clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel as officers sought to re-establish control over the square. Capital Gendarmerie officials reported that multiple individuals engaged in aggressive actions and incited broader confrontations with security forces during the afternoon standoff.

Presidential response to street unrest

Romanian President Nicușor Dan published a formal response on social media following the escalation outside the government building. The head of state condemned the confrontations in severe terms and stated that street battles have no place in a democratic assembly. While acknowledging that difficult economic and social conditions have produced justified frustrations across the country, he maintained that grievances cannot justify vandalism or physical danger to citizens. Dan reaffirmed that the Romanian Constitution guarantees the right to assemble and express public disagreement with official policy, provided demonstrations remain peaceful. He called upon participants and organisers to exercise restraint and pursue constructive discussions with state authorities.

Attacks and aggression, acts of vandalism, are unacceptable and must be sanctioned drastically, in accordance with the law. No grievance can justify such behaviour and the endangering of other citizens on the street.

Condemnation of political exploitation

In his statement, President Dan specifically targeted political figures whom he accused of exploiting agricultural grievances for political advantage. The president warned that irresponsible politicians were attempting to amplify social divisions artificially and divert a legitimate demonstration into unlawful unrest. He also drew attention to the growing prevalence of aggressive rhetoric across online networks and public debates, stating that hate speech leads directly to harmful physical actions. Dan argued that protest serves as an instrument of civil liberty rather than intimidation and insisted that direct dialogue between farmers and government representatives remains the only mechanism capable of solving agricultural challenges.

Equally serious and condemnable is the instigation to violence and the attempt by irresponsible politicians to artificially amplify social tension in order to hijack a legitimate rally stemming from legitimate grievances.

Law enforcement detentions and financial sanctions

The Capital Gendarmerie executed a series of targeted interventions to separate violent participants from peaceful demonstrators in Victoriei Square. Law enforcement personnel detained more than 20 individuals who exhibited violent conduct during the confrontation. Security officers extracted eight specific violent agitators from the crowd, later establishing that none of the eight held any connection to the agricultural sector or farming profession. In addition, the Gendarmerie applied financial sanctions totaling 11,000 Romanian lei to three men who displayed uncooperative and recalcitrant behaviour. Those fines were issued under the provisions of Law 61/1991 and Law 60/1991 for preventing security personnel from executing their official duties in the protest zone.