Moldovan opposition leader calls PM's arrest first victory of protesters
CHISINAU. Oct 15 (Interfax) - The arrest of former Moldovan Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party Vlad Filat is a result of the protest near the parliamentary building, says Renato Usatii, the leader of Our Party and one of the protest organizers.
"The outrage of the demonstrators who have taken to the streets in Chisinau has forced the parliament to make concessions. This is our first victory, on which I congratulate you," Usatii said at a rally in commenting on the parliament's decision to deprive Filat of parliamentary immunity from prosecution.
This "should have happened a year ago, when it emerged that one billion euros was stolen from problematic banks," Usatii said. "No worries, it's better late than never," he added.
National Anticorruption Center officers had detained Filat for 72 hours earlier on Thursday. Immediately following this, Filat stepped down as the LDPM leader and passed his duties to Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet.
"This is the beginning of the ruling coalition's end, which includes the LDPM. Today, because of civil society's pressure, the parliament voted to strip the former prime minister of immunity. This administration has decided to dampen the protesters' ardor by sacrificing Vlad Filat. It won't work! We are going to move ahead in exposing corrupted officials and thieves," Usatii said, adding that "this decision won't spare the other thieves responsibility."
Some demonstrators chanted 'Put Filat in Jail', 'Bring Thieves to Book', and 'We Want Filat'.
