CHISINAU, August 8. /TASS/. Organizers of mass protests in Moldova plan to resume anti-government demonstrations in August or September, the Dignity and Truth Platform (DTP) Party said on Monday.
New protests
"We consider it reasonable to hold a large-scale protest of all opposition forces against the dictatorship of (Vladimir) Plahotniuc (vice-chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova) as proposed earlier by the leader of the Our Party," DTP said in a statement adding that "the situation in the country has further exacerbated" since last year.
"The power is concentrated in the hands of the leadership of the party, for which only 15% of people voted. They violate fundamental rights of people for freedom of movement and assembly, intimidate opposition and population by unlawfully arresting demonstrators and opening criminal cases against unfavorable officials," DTP noted. The party also expressed concern over growing government debt, economic decline, mass emigration and delays in investigation of 1 billion euro embezzlement from the country’s banks.
"A well-organized mass demonstration of all opposition forces with public support has serious chances to lead to the collapse of the existing regime. After that, transparent and fair presidential elections should be held, followed by snap parliamentary election and replacement of the whole political class," DTP continued. Mayor of Moldova’s second-largest city Balti and leader of the Our Party, Renato Usatii, said that massive demonstrations are planned to be held at the end of August or beginning of September. "We should organize a serious large demonstration and not wait for parliamentary elections, with the help of which authorities came up with an occupation for all opposition forces," Usatii added.
Protests in Moldova
In 2014, the media reported that 1 billion euros disappeared from Moldovan banks. The scandal was followed by mass demonstrations of the opposition. The protests have brought together the Our Party that advocates close ties with Russia, the opposition Party of Socialists and the Dignity and Truth Platform Party that supports integration in the European Union. The center of Chisinau later turned into a tent camp.
Active protests started on January 20 when the government of Pavel Filip was appointed. Demonstrators even tried to storm the parliament building. However, the movement soon subsided. It is now represented only by separate tents of DTP activists on the central square of Chisinau. A court allowed the mayor’s office to tear them down, but authorities hesitate to provoke a conflict.
Protests led to the collapse of the coalition of pro-European parties, with the Liberal Democratic Party at its core. The new parliamentary majority is formed by DTP and Liberal Party with support of defectors of other factions.