Page "History of Romania" Paragraph 77

After the fall of Ceauşescu, the National Salvation Front ( FSN ), led by Ion Iliescu, took partial multi-party democratic and free market measures.

Several major political parties of the pre-war era, such as the National Christian Democrat Peasant's Party ( PNŢCD ), the National Liberal Party ( PNL ) and the Romanian Social Democrat Party ( PSDR ) were resurrected.

After several major political rallies ( especially in January ), in April 1990, a sit-in protest contesting the results of the recently held parliamentary elections began in University Square, Bucharest.

The protesters accused the FSN of being made up of former Communists and members of the Securitate.

The protesters did not recognize the results of the election, which they deemed undemocratic, and were asking for the exclusion from the political life of the former high-ranking Communist Party members.

The protest rapidly grew to become an ongoing mass demonstration ( known as the Golaniad ).

The peaceful demonstrations degenerated into violence, with some of the protesters attacking the police headquarters, national television station, and the Foreign Ministry.

After the police failed to bring the demonstrators to order, Ion Iliescu called on the " men of good will " to come and defend the State institutions in Bucharest.

Various worker groups from Romania's industrial platforms responded, some of whom engaged in altercations with the protesters.

But the most visible and politically influential were the coal miners of the Jiu Valley.

After representatives of the government met with leaders of the Jiu Valley coal miners union, thousands of miners were organized and arrived in Bucharest June 14.