Large-scale protest staged in centre of Moldovan capital

Chisinau, 24 April /MOLDPRES/ - A large-scale protest today took place on the Chisinau-based Great National Assembly Square against the government and a decision by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) on turning down an initiative to organize a constitutional referendum.

Participating in the event were supporters of the Dignity and Truth Civic Platform, Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), led by Maia Sandu. The leader of the Party of Socialists (PSRM), Igor Dodon, and the head of Our Party, Renato Usatii, informed that they would not participate in the today’s protest, on grounds that ‘’the day of holding the protest would not suit them.’’

In the beginning of the protest, the organisers said ‘’the managers of the inter-urban transport companies were threatened with losing their licences, if they did not cease working today; thus, thousands of people failed to come to the demonstration.’’

‘’We cannot allow somebody to mock at our country, encroach on our rights, steal us and we continue to live in poverty. The people expect a nondiscriminatory law; therefore, we press ahead with demanding urgently setting the date of snap elections, held concomitantly with the presidential polls and constitutional referendum,’’ the head of the Dignity and Truth Civic Platform, Andrei Nastase, said.   

Nastase repeatedly said that Moldova would be ‘’a state captured by oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc.’’

‘’I have come here with the MPs of the faction and colleagues from more districts of the country, in order to be together, when Moldova needs a change; we should send away this government and change the things in the country,’’ a PLDM lawmaker, Tudor Deliu, said.

The protesters adopted a resolution, thereby demanding fulfillment of the aforementioned claims.

The protests of the Dignity and Truth Civic Platform grew in the spring of 2015, and starting from last September, the demonstrations became permanent by non-stop protests with people living in tents. The citizens have repeatedly demanded fulfillment of the people’s claims, among which organization of snap parliamentary elections and intervention of the development partners in changing the situation in Moldova.    

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcaza)