Thousands Join Massive Protest in Romania

Local broadcasters estimate that 30,000 protesters are now marching in downtown Bucharest in the largest street protest in Romania this year. The center of the city has been largely blocked off, with local public transport company changing most bus routes in the area.

Protesters are asking for the dismissal of the country's center-right government and expressing their discontent with salary and job cuts for state employees, as well as cuts in education and the pension system.

Several members of Romania's main opposition Social Democratic Party, PSD, have also joined the march, together with their leader Victor Ponta.

The protest was scheduled to coincide with a no-confidence vote against the government, which was tabled by the opposition over the government's economic policies.

The government will likely survive the confidence vote, as the opposition has secured only 212 of the 236 votes needed to topple the government.