Communist MPs and their supporters rallied outside parliament in Chisinau on Thursday over alleged irregularities in elections which gave a boost to the country’s ruling pro-European Union coalition.
Protesters chanted: “Down with the Central Election Commission” and “Down with the Alliance,” referring to the governing three-party Alliance for European Integration (AEI).
The election commission says that the AEI won about 57 per cent of the vote in local councils last Sunday, while the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) took nearly a third of the vote – more than any other single party.
But Communist MPs accused the government and the commission of fraud, especially in the capital, where there will be a run-off for mayor on June 19. Communist candidate Igor Dodon reportedly won about 48 per cent and incumbent Dorin Chirtoaca of the pro-EU Liberal Party got around 46 per cent.
Mr Dodon immediately rejected the results, saying the count had been rigged. He has promised to file a legal challenge, claiming he won the election with 53 per cent of the vote.
Communist MP Sergiu Sarbu said: “We witnessed a series of violations and illegalities, which pointed to the irresponsibility of the commission.”