Around 10,000 people staged a mass protest in the Moldovan capital Chisinau today as tensions in the pro-Western nation flared following the secret midnight swearing-in of a new government.
Lawmakers of the impoverished former Soviet republic yesterday approved a new government amid political turmoil, with protesters storming the parliament building and opposition legislators attempting to block the vote.
The swearing-in of the new cabinet has exacerbated tensions over alleged high-level corruption in the country of 3.5 million wedged between Ukraine and Romania.
Opposition protesters marched along the capital's main avenues in sub-zero temperatures and rallied in front of the parliament building, which was blocked off by a police cordon six rows deep.
Clutching state flags, protesters urged the authorities to hold snap elections as they chanted "down with the government" and "down with parliament."
"Yesterday we were cheated, they trampled on democracy, freedoms, human rights and laws," opposition leader Andrei Nastase said.
"All of this is happening because Moldova's chief oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc usurped the country," he said, referring to one of the targets of the protests.
Plahotniuc, one of Moldova's richest men, is accused of using his fortune to meddle in politics.
Another opposition leader, Renato Usatii, vowed protesters would "topple this regime."
"Down with thieves and the illegal government!" he said, pledging to continue the protest tomorrow.
Some protest leaders met with parliament speaker Andrian Candu who said afterwards that "there are too few reasons to hold snap elections", and urged giving the new government a chance to work.
Security meanwhile has been tightened to prevent a repeat of yesterday's clashes.
Moldova has been locked in political crisis over a USD 1-billion corruption scandal that triggered mass demonstrations and the arrest of Vlad Filat, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2013.
President Nicolae Timofti has endorsed the new government despite the protests.
"I hope that this government, formed following a long period of political instability and the government's temporary fulfilment of its obligations, can competently and skillfully govern in this difficult situation," Timofti said in a statement after the swearing-in ceremony.
