You're reading: Supporters of gay propaganda penalty thwart Moldovan parliament’s meeting

Several dozens of Moldovan priests and their flock blocked the entrance to the Palace of the Republic, the seat of the national parliament, on Friday.

Deputies, journalists and parliament administration workers were unable to enter the building. The priests demanded that the amendments to the Moldovan Code of Administrative Offices, which abolished penalties for propaganda of homosexuality, pedophilia and sex outside of marriage, not be passed.

Deputies of the opposition Party of Communists support the protesters.

The parliament meeting was thwarted.

The Party of Communists officially put forward a no-confidence motion and demanded the government’s resignation on Thursday. Deputy Galina Balmos read out the communists’ statement from the rostrum.

The main accusation brought by the communists against Prime Minister Iurie Leanca’s Cabinet is the government’s loss of the controlling stake in Banca de economii (savings bank) and concession leasing of the Chisinau International Airport by a Russian company for 49 years.

Some 27 of 32 deputies from the Party of Communists faction signed the no-confidence motion. The document was submitted to the parliament’s bureau and the government.

The parliament will discuss the resignation of the government next Thursday, October 17.