A major anti-government protest held in Bucharest by Romanians living abroad turned violent Friday, with at least 250 people requiring medical care, local media reported.

Romanians drove for days from countries including England, Italy and Switzerland to protest against the policies of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), which they see as corrupt and pushing anti-justice laws. Others protested in cities around the country and in front of Romanian embassies across Europe.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 people gathered in front of the government building in Victoria Square, according to Romanian media. While the demonstration started peacefully, tensions soon boiled over into violence, culminating late in the evening with gendarmes deploying tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. More than 70 people, including police, were taken to hospital, broadcaster Antena 3 reported.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said PSD Interior Minister Carmen Dan had to explain authorities’ response to the Bucharest protest. “I strongly condemn the brutal intervention of the Gendarmerie, which was disproportionate in comparison to the demonstrations of most people in Victoria Square. An attempt to defeat people’s will through a violent reaction of law enforcement authorities is a damning solution,” Iohannis wrote on Facebook.

The opposition USR party called for Dan’s resignation. “People with good intentions were attacked and caught in the middle of the clashes between the gendarmerie and hooligans,” the party said in a Facebook post, adding that thugs were deployed intentionally to disturb the peace and cause clashes with the gendarmes.

Dan did not immediately respond to Iohannis and USR. There was also no immediate reaction from the government led by PSD Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă, who is on holiday until Monday.