Two parties hold simultaneous protests in Chisinau

The Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party held rallies simultaneously on Saturday around the Government building to protest against the European Integration Alliance and the Government's policies, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We are protesting against the ruling alliance and against the government, against the fact that our lives have become so miserable. We want the government to give our rights back so that we can lead the lives that we deserve as people who worked their entire lives”, said Svetlana Gheorghe, a supporter of the Communist Party. Communist MP Mark Tkaciuk declared that the ruling alliance failed to fulfill its commitments. “We came here today not to beg, but to claim our right to a decent living, to demand the resignation of the alliance and of the Government. Not to mention policies to improve people's lives. The only thing they are pursuing now is early elections, where they will try to steal people's votes”, said Mark Tkaciuk. According to organizers, the Communist meeting brought together over 1,000 supporters. Similar protests were also staged in four other towns. The Communists said protests would continue next week as well. A few hundred meters away, a smaller crowd of Social Democrats and their supporters demanded lower utility rates. “If our demands are left unheard, the protests will continue”, said the party's secretary Sergiu Coropceanu. He went on to add that it would have been good to stage the rallies together, but the Communists refused. “They chose to do it separately because perhaps they are pursuing other interests than those of the people”, said Sergiu Coropceanu.