Sympathizers of PCRM stage protest at Palace of the Republic

Supporters of the Communist Party (PCRM) protested in front of the Palace of the Republic and chanted “Down with the Alliance” and “Down with the Central Election Commission” before the start of the Parliament’s sitting. The protesters accused the Central Election Commission of contributing to the non-election of the mayor general of Chisinau by illegal methods, Info-Prim Neo reports. Communist MP Sergiu Sarbu said the people demand that the CEC resign. “We witnessed a series of violations and illegalities, which pointed to the irresponsibility of the Central Election Commission. This fact generated mass protests in society. The CEC president is protected by the PLDM. We thus demand giving a vote of no confidence to the Government and that it should resign,” said the lawmaker. In the legislative body’s sitting, the Communist parliamentary group asked including the procedure for electing the head of state in the agenda. “Mister Lupu, you were elected Speaker in order to become head of state. We put forward a proposal that allows initiating the election of the President. We requested the Constitutional Court to take steps in this respect. We are in a constitutional vacuum, but you do not put the procedure for electing the head of state to the vote. The Communist faction and the people demand that the dismissal of the Head of Parliament Marian Lupu be put to the vote,” said MP Artur Reshetnikov. During a break, lawmaker Igor Dodon, who is the PCRM’s candidate for the mayoralty of Chisinau, told the press that he filed a challenge against Dorin Chirtoaca to the Prosecutor General’s Office. He said he has evidence that Dorin Chirtoaca contributes to corruption at the City Hall and traffic of influence. The Communist parliamentary group later left the sitting in protest at the refusal to include the dismissal of the CEC and the Speaker in the agenda. The Communist MPs said they do not want to participate in this chaos.