LBCI

Romanian crowd tries to storm parliament in protest at COVID-19 pass

Middle East

21-12-2021 | 08:59

Share

Share

Romanian crowd tries to storm parliament in protest at COVID-19 pass

2^min

Romanian protesters tried to force their way into parliament on Tuesday, blocking traffic and vandalizing some cars in the capital Bucharest in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from making a COVID-19 health pass mandatory for workers.

Riot police were caught off guard when hundreds of protesters poured in through a yard gate, spray painting cars and forcing security staff to block the building's entryways. The protesters later left. Police did not use force.

While the ruling coalition of centrists and leftists is currently negotiating the terms of a health pass mandate, no such bill is on parliament's legislative agenda at the moment.

An estimated 2,000-2,500 people from across the country gathered outside parliament in the morning waving Romanian flags and chanting "Freedom," in a protest organized by the opposition ultra-nationalist Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR).

In October, Romanian senators narrowly rejected a bill requiring medical staff, public sector workers and those of large privately-owned firms to carry a COVID-19 health pass which was aimed at boosting vaccine uptake.

The coalition government is negotiating a new bill which would require most workers to show they are either vaccinated, have recovered from the virus or have a recent negative test, but have yet to agree on who pays for testing and for how long.

Romania is the European Union's second-least vaccinated state, with roughly 40% of the population inoculated amid distrust in state institutions and poor vaccine education. At the height of the fourth wave in late October, Romania topped global lists of new coronavirus deaths per million.

REUTERS

Breaking Headlines

Romanian

Crowd

Storming

Parliament

Protest

COVID-19

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

“Singing Emmanuel” enters Guinness World Records as world’s longest Christmas recital

2026-01-28

“Singing Emmanuel” enters Guinness World Records as world’s longest Christmas recital

US to be represented at Cairo meeting as Ambassador remains in Beirut: Arab Diplomatic sources to LBCI

05:04

US to be represented at Cairo meeting as Ambassador remains in Beirut: Arab Diplomatic sources to LBCI

Israel raises demands to US over Iran, signaling potential action if ballistic missiles left out of talks

News Bulletin Reports

2026-02-04

Israel raises demands to US over Iran, signaling potential action if ballistic missiles left out of talks

Lebanese Army shifts focus to borders amid security, equipment, and funding challenges ahead of Paris Conference

News Bulletin Reports

12:55

Lebanese Army shifts focus to borders amid security, equipment, and funding challenges ahead of Paris Conference

Videos

German President Steinmeier meets Lebanon's President Aoun at Baabda Palace—Video

2026-02-16

German President Steinmeier meets Lebanon's President Aoun at Baabda Palace—Video

Future Movement supporters mark Rafic Hariri anniversary, call for Saad Hariri's return to politics

2026-02-14

Future Movement supporters mark Rafic Hariri anniversary, call for Saad Hariri's return to politics

Israel strikes vehicle in Doueir-Wadi Aaba in South Lebanon—Video

2026-02-01

Israel strikes vehicle in Doueir-Wadi Aaba in South Lebanon—Video

Berri halts live broadcast amid parliament salary dispute

2026-01-29

Berri halts live broadcast amid parliament salary dispute

Fairuz receives condolences for death of son Hali Rahbani—Video

2026-01-10

Fairuz receives condolences for death of son Hali Rahbani—Video

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

2025-12-02

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

2025-12-02

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

2025-12-02

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

2025-12-02

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Israel signals readiness to escalate in Lebanon as Iran tensions rise: The details

1

Israel signals readiness to escalate in Lebanon as Iran tensions rise: The details

Lebanese Army shifts focus to borders amid security, equipment, and funding challenges ahead of Paris Conference

2

Lebanese Army shifts focus to borders amid security, equipment, and funding challenges ahead of Paris Conference

US to be represented at Cairo meeting as Ambassador remains in Beirut: Arab Diplomatic sources to LBCI

3

US to be represented at Cairo meeting as Ambassador remains in Beirut: Arab Diplomatic sources to LBCI

Speaker Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: No support for delaying elections or extending Parliament’s term

4

Speaker Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: No support for delaying elections or extending Parliament’s term

Trump curious why Iran has not 'capitulated' amid US military buildup, says Witkoff

5

Trump curious why Iran has not 'capitulated' amid US military buildup, says Witkoff

Lebanon’s Public Transport Authority denies any change in bus fares

6

Lebanon’s Public Transport Authority denies any change in bus fares

'No thanks', Greenland PM says of Trump offer to send US Navy hospital ship

7

'No thanks', Greenland PM says of Trump offer to send US Navy hospital ship

US-Iran talks expected Friday if Iran sends nuclear proposal soon, Axios reports

8

US-Iran talks expected Friday if Iran sends nuclear proposal soon, Axios reports

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More