02:41Hundreds rallied in Bucharest on Thursday to denounce the Romanian government's plans to cut pensions for the visually impaired by up to 80 percent.
Footage shows protesters raising their walking sticks and blowing horns during the demonstration. Some can also be seen holding signs reading 'You condemned us to poverty', 'Don't take a penny earned from us' and 'In the country of the blind, the king is 'special'!'
"We are here to protect our rights because our pensions were dramatically downgraded and we want to have back all what the government took from us," said one protester.
Another added: "The Romanian government didn't understand and they cut a lot of our pensions. They consider now that, if we don't have 25 years of work, we don't deserve the full pension. They cut between 60 and 80 percent from the pension."
Romanian paraclimber Razvan Nedu also commented on the new law. He explained that his biggest concern is for those who have already retired long before the announcement was made but would still receive major pension cuts.
"This changed law will affect me also in the future because even if I am disabled, I would have to work the same as other abled-bodied people without exemption," he added.
This law, which came into force on September 1, has sparked protests nationwide, with demonstrators last week calling for urgent revisions. Critics argue that the law's current terms disproportionately impact those with disabilities, exacerbating their risk of poverty and social marginalisation.
'You condemned us to poverty' - Hundreds rally in Bucharest to denounce govt pension cuts for visually impaired
Hundreds rallied in Bucharest on Thursday to denounce the Romanian government's plans to cut pensions for the visually impaired by up to 80 percent.
Footage shows protesters raising their walking sticks and blowing horns during the demonstration. Some can also be seen holding signs reading 'You condemned us to poverty', 'Don't take a penny earned from us' and 'In the country of the blind, the king is 'special'!'
"We are here to protect our rights because our pensions were dramatically downgraded and we want to have back all what the government took from us," said one protester.
Another added: "The Romanian government didn't understand and they cut a lot of our pensions. They consider now that, if we don't have 25 years of work, we don't deserve the full pension. They cut between 60 and 80 percent from the pension."
Romanian paraclimber Razvan Nedu also commented on the new law. He explained that his biggest concern is for those who have already retired long before the announcement was made but would still receive major pension cuts.
"This changed law will affect me also in the future because even if I am disabled, I would have to work the same as other abled-bodied people without exemption," he added.
This law, which came into force on September 1, has sparked protests nationwide, with demonstrators last week calling for urgent revisions. Critics argue that the law's current terms disproportionately impact those with disabilities, exacerbating their risk of poverty and social marginalisation.
Hundreds rallied in Bucharest on Thursday to denounce the Romanian government's plans to cut pensions for the visually impaired by up to 80 percent.
Footage shows protesters raising their walking sticks and blowing horns during the demonstration. Some can also be seen holding signs reading 'You condemned us to poverty', 'Don't take a penny earned from us' and 'In the country of the blind, the king is 'special'!'
"We are here to protect our rights because our pensions were dramatically downgraded and we want to have back all what the government took from us," said one protester.
Another added: "The Romanian government didn't understand and they cut a lot of our pensions. They consider now that, if we don't have 25 years of work, we don't deserve the full pension. They cut between 60 and 80 percent from the pension."
Romanian paraclimber Razvan Nedu also commented on the new law. He explained that his biggest concern is for those who have already retired long before the announcement was made but would still receive major pension cuts.
"This changed law will affect me also in the future because even if I am disabled, I would have to work the same as other abled-bodied people without exemption," he added.
This law, which came into force on September 1, has sparked protests nationwide, with demonstrators last week calling for urgent revisions. Critics argue that the law's current terms disproportionately impact those with disabilities, exacerbating their risk of poverty and social marginalisation.