Moldova Parliament Stormed!! Is Ukraine next?
from businessneweurope.eu
Moldova: Protestors storm parliament, demand new elections
April 7, 2009
A crowd of around 20,000 people has stormed the Moldovan parliament, demanding an end to the Communist Party’s rule.
Moldovan opposition leaders say the Sunday April 5 parliamentary elections which returned the Communists to power were rigged.
Angry protestors have entered the Moldovan parliament building in central Chisinau and set fire to furniture, documents and equipment from the parliament. Computers and other equipment were hurled from the building.
Other demonstrators have thrown eggs, stones and bottles at the presidency, Interfax reports.
At least 20 people are reported to be injured in clashes between police and demonstrators, and one protestor is feared to be dead. Police are now using tear gas to try and disperse the crowd.
The demonstration started peacefully with around 10,000 mainly young people calling for the end of the Communist government, and for closer ties with the EU and Romania.
As the crowd swelled, protestors carrying Moldovan, EU and Romanian flags breached the police cordon around the parliament and attacked the building
Opposition activists are demanding a repeat of Sunday’s election, which they say was rigged.
Liberal Democratic Party leader Vlad Filat told Interfax, “We have information about abuses and falsifications. Thee are many cases that citizens who are dead and Moldovan national’s who are abroad “took part” in the election.”
With almost 99% of votes counted, the Communist Party had 49.96% of the vote, and is expected to pass the 50% threshold which will allow it to form a government and select the president. The Liberal Party had gained 12.78% of the vote, the Liberal Democratic Party 12.26%, and Our Moldova Alliance 9.81%.
The protest come after the OSCE declared the elections at the weekend largely “free and fair,” but admitted there were some abuses.
“Yesterday’s parliamentary elections in Moldova met many international standards and commitments, but further improvements are required to ensure an electoral process free from undue administrative interference and to increase public confidence,” the OSCE said in a press release on Monday.
