Man jumps from balcony of Romania’s parliament

It was always going to be a dramatic day in Romania’s parliament with Emil Boc’s government facing yet another no-confidence vote.

But no-one could have predicted the tragic turn of events that interrupted the prime minister’s speech.

A protest plunge from a TV technician sent shockwaves through the chamber. Angry at austerity measures, the man wore a T-shirt saying “You killed our children’s future.” Media reports said he had lost benefits for his autistic son.

For Crin Antonescu, leader of the opposition National Liberal Party, it is a sign that public endurance of government policies has reached, and surpassed, its limit.

The prime minister was among those who rushed to the aid of the man who suffered multiple but not life-threatening injuries.

“These are difficult times and all of us must get through them with solidarity, lucidity, reason and composure,” said Emil Boc. “The solution is not what we have seen today in parliament.”

A walkout by shocked opposition MPs meant the government survived the no-confidence motion. It is now set to pursue IMF-backed cost-cutting measures aimed at lifting Romania’s economy out of recession.

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