CHISINAU, October 2 – Novosti. About 40 thousand people take part on Sunday in an anti-government protest in the center of Chisinau, one of the organizers of the rally, a member of the Shor party, Dinu Turcanu, told Novosti.
The participants of the demonstration gathered at the tent city in front of the parliament building, where the indefinite protest action has been taking place since September 18. The protesters were not allowed into the courtyard of the presidential administration, on the steps of which Sunday rallies usually took place, so they set up a stage in the square opposite, right next to the parliament. Because of this, traffic in the center of the capital was blocked.
“We are very pleased to announce that today we have about 40 thousand people who have come from all over the country: from south to north, including Chisinau! We are very glad that Chisinau is waking up a little bit, Chisinau is next to us, the capital nearby and everything will be successful for us, that is, we will achieve the overthrow of the current government,” Turcanu said.
The protesters are outraged by the unprecedented increase in prices for gas, other energy resources and food, as well as high inflation and falling living standards. The protesters accuse the authorities of failing to cope with the crisis, point to a record inflation over the past 20 years, which in mid-summer amounted to 33.5% on an annualized basis. The country’s leadership is criticized for its unwillingness to negotiate better gas prices with Russia , as well as for political pressure on opposition representatives.
Numerous polls show that about 60% of the country’s population doubts the ability of the ruling Action and Solidarity party to stay in power for another three years before the next parliamentary elections. Also, about 70% of Moldovans are disappointed with the policy of the authorities and almost 65% support the idea of changing the government.
