Protesters In Moldova Demand New Government Resign

Thousands of Moldovans have rallied in the country’s capital, Chisinau, to demand the resignation of the newly appointed government and early elections.

The protest was organized by two pro-Russian parties and a pro-EU anticorruption movement.

A counter-rally in support of the government, which was also planned for January 24, was canceled to avoid clashes.

Police said about 16,000 protesters braved minus 10 degree Celsius temperatures.

They chanted slogans like, "We want the country back!" and "Unity, citizens!" in Romanian and Russian.

There were no reports of violence.

Public anger toward what many Moldovans consider a deeply corrupt political class has been on the rise since the appointment on January 20 of Pavel Filip as prime minister.

A member of the ruling Democratic Party (PD), Filip is perceived by many to be under the control of a controversial oligarch, Vlad Plahotniuc.

But the United States, the European Union, and Moldova’s closest ally, EU-member Romania, have said they would work with the new government, and urged it to implement pro-EU reforms.