Two weeks of anti-government protests continued in Romania this week as hundreds gathered in a snowstorm during the Prime Minister's televised address to the nation on Wednesday (25th). It followed daily demonstrations of over 1,000 people gathering in Bucharest's University Square. Protesters have been demanding the resignation of the PM and the president after harsh austerity continued to be enforced – even after the IMF gave the country 20 billion euros.

Being jobless and seeing their living standards skydive whilst elite corruption goes on as normal wasn't enough of a reason to speak out for the foreign minister Teodor Baconschi, who was sacked in a face-saving measure after calling the demonstrators 'inept and violent slum dwellers'. Meanwhile the PM Emil Boc and President Basescu have taken the 'ignore it and it'll go away' approach, only confirmed their intentions to plough on through with cuts and unpopular healthcare reform.

Last week 'youths' and the cops clashed with stones and firebombs meeting tear gas and flares. Shop windows, banks, bus stations and street lights were smashed up. In the calmer parts of the protests flags with the centre ripped out were waved, and banners reading 'Death to the dictator Basecsu' and 'Down with the Mafiosi'. The uprising has been called Romania's indignado movement, after the Spanish revolt starting in 2010 which has been credited with inspiring anti-cuts action across Europe and the Occupy movement.

The anger has spread throughout the country – attributed to its wide coverage on all the television channels, who are accused of sensationalising the events – and to Romanian embassies in Dublin, Vienna and London by Romanians living abroad.

For now, the government is hoping to ride out the storm, but with some protesters promising to carry on 'til Basescu is ousted, it may be harder than they anticipate...