Two thousand Romanian farmers clash with police in Bucharest protest

Bucharest saw 2,000 farmers and shepherds clash with riot police on Tuesday, demanding the end of an EU ban on live sheep exports. Protesters gathered outside the government building, threw rocks and metal barriers, and police used tear gas to disperse them. Twenty‑six people were detained and 24, including police officers, were treated for injuries. Four were hospitalised.

The protest was sparked by the European Union’s ban on live sheep exports, imposed after an outbreak of the highly contagious small ruminant plague. The ban, which will end in 2026, has cost Romanian farmers a large share of their income. Farmers across Europe have staged similar demonstrations in recent years, and far‑right groups have openly supported this rally. Romania is also facing its highest inflation in the EU and a political crisis, with a no‑confidence motion in May that left the parliament split and no new government in place.

Police said the violence began when demonstrators demanded the ban be lifted. Tear gas was fired to break up the crowd. The government and opposition called for calm. The protest was led by farmers and shepherd groups, who carried banners demanding the resignation of the president and prime minister. Some chant the name of far‑right politician Calin Georgescu, who is on trial for actions against the constitutional order after the 2024 presidential election annulment. Supporters of Georgescu had urged people to join the protest on social media. George Simion, head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, posted that the party “stands with the farmers and all working Romanians,” but urged a peaceful demonstration.

President Nicusor Dan condemned the violence, calling it “extremely serious” and warning against turning a legitimate protest into street fighting. The government’s press release described the protest as having “degenerat[e] into regrettable acts of violence” and called for calm. The incident highlights the tensions between Romania’s agricultural sector, EU policy, and a fragmented political landscape. The outcome of the protest may influence how the government negotiates the remaining years of the live‑export ban and could shape the next steps in Romania’s ongoing political crisis.