{"id":1274,"date":"2020-12-06T12:22:24","date_gmt":"2020-12-06T12:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=133693"},"modified":"2020-12-06T12:22:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-06T12:22:24","slug":"thousands-rally-in-moldova-calling-for-snap-parliamentary-vote-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/12\/06\/thousands-rally-in-moldova-calling-for-snap-parliamentary-vote-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands Rally In Moldova Calling For Snap Parliamentary Vote"},"content":{"rendered":"
CHISINAU — Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of the Moldovan capital demanding the government’s resignation and early general elections.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators gathered at the square in front of the parliament building in Chisinau on December 6, shouting slogans such as \u201cWe are the people!” and “To prison!”<\/p>\n
The rally was called by President-elect Maia Sandu, who favors closer ties with the European Union, after lawmakers passed a bill transferring control of the country’s intelligence agency from the president to parliament.<\/p>\n
Several thousand people on December 3 rallied against the move, which came after Sandu defeated the Russia-backed incumbent Igor Dodon in last month’s presidential election.<\/p>\n
Sandu and her supporters say the goal of the legislation was to reduce the presidency before she takes office and to boost parliament, where the pro-Moscow Socialists aligned with Dodon outnumber the opposition.<\/p>\n
Addressing the December 6 rally, Sandu reiterated her call for the government of Prime Minister Ion Chicu to resign and for snap parliamentary polls.<\/p>\n
“Igor Dodon does not want to admit defeat,” she told the crowd. “He wants now to set fire to the country, provoke chaos, drive Moldova into international isolation.”<\/p>\n
She also accused parliament of trying to sabotage her ability to fight corruption, saying: “This majority adopts laws that strip the powers of the president so that we cannot fight corruption and thieves.”<\/p>\n
“We will go to the end until we cleanse the country of corrupt officials,” Sandu added.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court is expected to officially confirm her election victory on December 10, and her inauguration is scheduled for two weeks later.<\/p>\n
Sandu promised during her presidential campaign to battle corruption in Moldova, the poorest countries in Europe.<\/p>\n