Moldova braces for more protests after new government sworn in

Moldova braced for fresh protests on Thursday after the opposition called for more demonstrations against a new government that was secretly sworn in overnight.

Lawmakers of the impoverished former Soviet republic on Wednesday approved a new government amid political turmoil, with protestors storming the parliament building and opposition legislators attempting to block the vote. 

Opposition leaders have called on various anti-government factions to gather at 0800 GMT on Thursday by the parliament building to protest against the new authorities. 

President Nicolae Timofti endorsed the new government despite the protests.

"I hope that this government, formed following a long period of political instability and the government's temporary fulfilment of its obligations, can competently and skillfully govern in this difficult situation," Timofti said in a statement after the swearing-in ceremony.

Several dozen protestors on Wednesday broke through police lines and into the parliament building after the government was chosen, while police threw smoke grenades and used batons to try to disperse the demonstrators.
Health authorities told AFP that 15 people had been injured in the clashes between police and demonstrators. 

In a statement released on Wednesday night, the US embassy in the country urged all sides to "refrain from acts that encourage or provoke violence" and called on authorities to immediately address demonstrators' concerns.

Moldova has been locked in political crisis over a $1-billion (910-million-euro) corruption scandal that triggered mass demonstrations and the arrest of Vlad Filat, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2013.

The last government, which was also pro-EU, lost a parliamentary confidence vote in October and was dismissed.

Since then the parliament has been deadlocked over its replacement.  

Moldova, a country of 3.5 million people wedged between Ukraine and Romania, is one of Europe's poorest countries.

In 2014, the government signed a historic EU association agreement despite bitter opposition from former master Russia.

Source: AFP