Moldova: Arrest made as protesters collect signatures for presidential vote

An anti-government protest took place in central Chisinau, Sunday, where activists collected signatures for a petition to demand the Moldovan president be elected by direct vote rather than by parliament. Tents and stalls were set up at the Great National Assembly Square where activists brought an array of Moldovan and EU flags. A large police presence was deployed at the site, where tension between protesters and officers led to the arrest of one demonstrator. The demonstration was called by the 'Platforma Civica Demnitate si Adevar' (Civic Platform for Dignity and Truth), a movement that says it aims to fight corruption and bring the country closer to European Union membership. Moldova has witnessed a summer of protests after allegations of major banking fraud rocked the government last year. In November 2014 the Moldovan state was forced to bail out three banks after they lost a total of $1.50 billion (€1.35 billion). Protesters are calling for criminal charges to be brought against those responsible.