Monday, 23 January 2012Romanian bloggers are expressing disappointment that an ongoing protest against a controversial health reform bill evolved into a violent anti-government and anti-austerity rally on January 13th.
The bill, which has since been withdrawn, would have led to the privatisation of the healthcare system, allowing private insurers to manage a large part of the state health budget. Protesters opposed it because they say it would have led to higher costs.
The demonstrations started in Bucharest in a show of support for Palestinian-born Dr Raed Arafat, founder of the SMURD emergency service, who temporarily resigned as state undersecretary at the ministry of health because of the proposal.
But the peaceful demonstrations turned into chaos when football hooligans joined to protest a law which sends people who light torches at the stadiums to prisons.
Romania's opposition supporters then joined the crowds and introduced a host of unrelated issues -- legalising marijuana, airport reforms, car taxes -- and diminished the original protest message.
"Romanians do not know how to protest," said a commenter identified only as Marcos, who argued that the expectation the protest would have a huge impact was an illusion.
"It was only a temporary one because the 'ultras' [hooligans] went out and sowed violence. Other than that, isolated groups of people discovered the austerity measures do not do them good a year and a half after they were passed," Marcos said.
Sebastian Bargau tried to list the multitude of protesters' claims. "They supported [Arafat], pensions and salaries, scandal, debacle, vandalism, [the controversial gold mining project] Rosia Montana, the youth is leaving the country, the car tax."
"We did not know any longer [why they were] still protesting," he said.
Another commenter, Stroe, agreed, arguing that the unrelated and at times questionable claims ruined the original protest.
"Marijuana, prostitution ... legitimate or not, such claims are useless in the current context. They have diminished the anti-government message and made fools of the protesters, and left TV viewers with an impression that all the madmen went out to protest at the University Square."
Any other future action of this kind will be regarded with suspicion by the rest of the population, Stroe concluded.
Another commenter, Gabriel, criticized those on the Internet who played down the protests while saying they feel sorry for those protesters who remain in the streets to promote different causes.
"Too bad it has come to this. Too bad that some on the Internet, but also in the real world, are being ironic about what is now going on in Bucharest and in other cities. With such attitudes we will not be able to change anything," he concluded.
Amidst the criticism and disappointment, Parfene wrapped up the debate on a positive note.
"Still, these protests played a role. We have taken the numbness out of the politicians, we have shown them we are still here and can trip them. A controversial bill was withdrawn under the people's pressure. This is a step forward in a quite inert democracy," he said. |
Monday, 23 January 2012
Setimes
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