A violent demonstration took place in Bucharest on September 15, involving thousands of shepherds and farmers protesting an EU decision to ban the export of Romanian sheep. The ban, imposed earlier this year, was due to an outbreak of small ruminant plague, a contagious viral disease common in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The disease has been spreading in the Balkans for several years, and European authorities said Romania’s system for tracking animals was not effective enough to control it. Romania used to be the top exporter of live sheep in the EU, but now it faces a complete ban on exporting to EU countries. The protest, held near the government headquarters on Victory Square, turned violent when hundreds of agitators reportedly joined the crowd, according to the newspaper Adevarul. Clashes broke out between the demonstrators and gendarmes, resulting in significant property damage. Supporters of Calin Georgescu, a former far-right presidential candidate, were present at the protest, and the event reportedly became a platform for spreading messages from the far-right AUR party. The demonstration, initially meant to highlight the challenges faced by shepherds, has instead sparked broader political debates. Romania has been in a political crisis since last June, when President Nicusor Dan proposed Adrian Vestea as prime minister, but Vestea failed to gain a majority in Parliament. The situation remains unresolved, as the Constitution does not require early elections, leaving the decision to the president. If elections were to be held, recent polls suggest that the far-right could receive around 40 percent of the voting intentions, highlighting the growing influence of such parties. Adevarul, a daily newspaper aligned with the center-left PSD party, which is currently in opposition, has reported on the political and social tensions surrounding the protests. The paper describes itself as the largest Romanian daily and emphasizes its commitment to independence and journalistic balance. It has been critical of the current government, reflecting the broader polarization in Romanian politics. The protests have become a symbol of both economic hardship and the rising influence of far-right ideologies in the country.