Romania: Peasant Protests

Featured image: Massive police mobilization against the protests on September 15. Source: Al Jazeera.

In recent days there has been a new wave of peasant protests in Romania. The leading sector in the current struggles are shepherds that are being robbed of their livelihoods by an European Union export ban until the end of 2026 based on a common disease of sheep, by far not exclusive to Romania. This has led to a halving of the prices of sheep in a few months.

The peasants are demanding the government to subsidize their herds while the ban goes on. Additionally food prices have been sharply rising linked to ongoing droughts. The payments promised to help combat the droughts have not been paid out.

In a first wave of protests in July against the agricultural ministry ANSVSA had also already begun to mobilize more popular groups facing poverty and poor living and working conditions. While there are reports of reactionary politicians trying to usurp the leadership of the protests, popular support keeps growing.

In a recent demonstration on September 15, mobilizing thousands in the capital, the government simply “acknowledged” the demands, not even promising to complete any of them. At the same time letting their mask slip by mobilizing riot squads to attack the protests. The demonstration defended itself, driving back the police temporarily with flagpoles, stones and even using the metal barricades the police had put up. In the resulting struggles, 26 protesters were detained and at least 4 were left hospitalized.

The grave problems faced by the peasants have not been handled, much less resolved. While the peasants’ livelihoods are being destroyed, with entire herds being forcefully culled, the cost of living keeps rising – however, so will the determination of the peasants.