The ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) considers organizing yet another “huge rally,” similar to the one staged in early June this year, when about 150,000 people gathered in Bucharest’s Victoriei Square for a large rally against the so-called shadow state and the abuses in justice.

“It’s not decided yet. President Dragnea is informed by our colleagues in the country, who are in turn pressed by mayors, the electorate, by our members who still want another rally. I am one of those who support this idea of making a huge PSD rally again,” PSD’s deputy secretary general Codrin Stefanescu said at local news television Romania TV, local Mediafax reported.

He also said that the early June rally was a peaceful one, without incidents.

His statement came after the violent incidents in Bucharest’s Victoriei Square on Friday, August 10, during the anti-government protest. Hundreds of people were injured after the riot police used tear gas and water cannons.

Meanwhile, PSD MP Catalin Radulescu said the violence during Friday’s protest was a coup d'etat attempt, led by the opposition leaders and president Klaus Iohannis. Eduard Helvig, the head of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), is also responsible for the violence, according to Radulescu.

“Do not challenge us, because 1 million of us will come and trample you down,” he wrote on Facebook, according to local Mediafax.

Referring to the Friday anti-government protest in Bucharest that turned violent after the riot police used tear gas and water cannons, PSD president Liviu Dragnea also accused president Iohannis of being the “political sponsor of violence and extremist behavior”. He also said that the opposition parties are responsible for the violent protest.

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Irina Marica, irina.marica@romania-insider.com