CHISINAU, October 2 – Novosti. Police claim that 6,500 people took part in Sunday’s anti-government rally in Chisinau, although protest organizers claimed 40,000 participants.
On Sunday, another mass protest rally of supporters and representatives of the opposition Shor party was held in the capital of Moldova. They set up another 50 tents near the presidential administration building, in addition to those that have been located in the park in front of the parliament since September 18. The protesters insist on the previous demands: the resignation of the government and the president and the holding of early elections.
“The organizers of the protest action provided transport for about 9,300 people, about 6,500 people took part in the protest,” the press service of the Moldovan police told Novosti.
According to the organizers of the protests, about 40 thousand people took part in the protest, there should have been more demonstrators if they had not been prevented from reaching the capital by police officers.
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.
