Moldovan Opposition Protesting Reelection of Supreme Court of Justice Head

Moldovan opposition parties are protesting Tuesday against the reelection of the head of the country's Supreme Court of Justice, Mihai Poalelungi, for another four-year term.

CHISINAU (Sputnik) — The protesters stormed the Supreme Court building, demanding Poalelungi's resignation to be followed by a fair and open election to the post.

"They decided to quietly reelect Poalelungi to the position of President of the Supreme Court of Justice for another four years…. The are no opponents, and he has been competing with himself. I know that the candidates who would like to participate in the competition…were forced out of the path," the leader of opposition Our Party, Renato Usatii, told reporters.

The Moldovan capital of Chisianu has been engulfed in protests since September 2015, with rallies erupting sporadically. A coalition of opposition forces — Socialists, Our Party and the Civic Platform Dignity and Truth (DA) — has been demanding the resignation of the Moldovan president, the prime minister and the chief prosecutor, while also calling for early parliamentary elections and prompt action to tackle corruption.

In October 2015, the country's Cabinet of Ministers, headed by Valery Strelet, was dismissed. Moldova entered the year 2016 with no acting government against the backdrop of a deep political crisis.

Last month, Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti nominated Pavel Filip to the position of Moldovan prime minister, which also caused a wave of disapproval among the opposition and resulted in mass protests.