Press Review - August 13, 2018

08.13.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Ruling Party Mulls Pro-Government Rally

Ruling social Democratic Party secretary Codrin Stefanescu said party leaders are pressured by local social democrat mayors throughout the country to organize a massive pro-government rally.

Stefanescu said he supports the idea of a new counter-really after Friday's anti-government protest.

Romania MEP Grapini Dreads Having to Explain Protests to European Parliament

Romanian MEP Maria Grapini said she returns to the European Parliament “with dread” at having to explain the incidents in Victory Square in Bucharest.

Grapini said she would have to explain the violent clashes between riot police and demonstrators on Friday, which affect Romania's image. Romania is about to take over the presidency of the EU Council.

“I dread my return to Brussels on August 28, because it doesn't' look good. I'm also on the commission for civil rights and liberties and we'll be on the daily agenda for sure. It doesn't look good as we're about to take over the presidency of the EU Council because we are no longer credible. We are now perceived as an unstable country, despite the fact that the Government has the majority in Parliament,” said Grapini, who is a member of the ruling coalition.

19 People File Criminal Complaints Against Riot Police after Friday's Protest

Military prosecutors registered 19 complaints by Sunday afternoon from protesters against riot police after Friday's protest in Victory Square.

The complainants were registered after military prosecutors launched a call for information from eyewitnesses and people who were injured in violent clashes with riot police.

Prosecutors opened criminal investigations for unwarranted use of force and abuse of power in the intervention of riot police to disperse peaceful demonstrators in Bucharest's Victory Square Friday evening.