Socialists party

Several thousand people in Moldova's capital Chisinau took part in an "Immortal Regiment" march on Monday, organised by the pro-Russian Socialist Party, PSRM, many of them breaking a new law that bans the display of symbols glorifying the former Soviet communist regime.

And, as a parliamentary republic, the prerogatives of the new president are limited. Without the support of a parliamentary majority, which would then form a pro-European government, Sandu's political agenda will continuously be countered by Dodon and the PSRM.

The speed with which Chicu was installed, two days after Sandu lost a confidence vote and not long after the Socialists won control of the capital, has led some observers to accuse the Socialists of a premeditated plan. Sandu said the Socialists were running scared of her anti-corruption agenda.

As the international community appealed for calm in Moldova, the new Prime Minister, Maia Sandu, defiantly summoned her cabinet to meet on Monday in parliament - despite a blockade by police still obeying the former government led by Pavel Filip.

Montenegrin journalists, media associations and NGOs will protest on Thursday in Podgorica as the managing council of the public broadcaster is set to debate and vote on the dismissal of RTCG's director and editorial team.

Still awaiting the final results of the Sunday's presidential election, both the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists party, DPS, and the opposition are hurriedly turning attention to the local election in Podgorica, which could be the most important poll this year.

The EU press service has reminded would-be-member Serbia that freedom of expression is an important value of the European club - and that Serbia's respect for it will be examined closely during its accession process.

Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin's Movement of Socialists party lashed out after KRIK published a report on Monday alleging that Vulin bought an apartment in Belgrade under suspicious circumstances with money he had borrowed from his wife's aunt in Canada.

Aleksandar Vulin was in Pozarevac, eastern Serbia on Friday where he placed a wreath at the grave of Slobodan Milosevic on the anniversary of his death.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta voiced opinion on Thursday that Romania's relations with the Russian Federation will worsen on the short- and medium-term, both because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the irreconcilable interests of the two countries with respect to the Republic of Moldova.

Photo credit: (c) Silviu MATEI / AGERPRES FLOW