Protesters in tiny ex-Soviet Moldova on Thursday pondered their next move after the authorities snubbed a deadline to call early elections in the latest twist in the country’s protracted political crisis. Demonstrators—including both pro-European and pro-Russian groups—issued a Thursday ultimatum for parliament to be dissolved after ratcheting up street protests against rampant corruption among the impoverished state’s ruling elite. But the authorities blanked the demands from the protesters, insisting that a new government formed last week would remain in power.
Pro-EU protest leader Andrei Nastase told AFP that the disparate opposition groups would meet Friday morning in the capital Chisinau to agree on their next step. “Despite the fatigue of protesters, there is no other option than continuing the protests,” Nastase said, warning of possible “more radical measures.”
Moldova has been locked in political crisis since a $1-billion (925-million-euro) corruption scandal erupted early last year, triggering mass demonstrations and the arrest of former premier Vlad Filat in October.
Full Article: Moldova protesters weigh next move as election ultimatum passes | Inquirer News.