July 2 (SeeNews) - Thousands of people protested in Moldova's capital Chisinau on Sunday after the country's top court cancelled the election victory of a pro-European candidate for the post of city mayor, local media reported.
The people gathered in support of winner Andrei Nastase, who defeated the Socialist candidate, Ion Ceban, in a runoff on June 3, Realitatea Moldova TV station reported.
Some 7,000 people gathered in Chisinau's Grand National Assembly Square, Moldovan police said in a press release on Sunday evening.
The protest action was peaceful, according to the police.
Non-parliamentary and pro-EU opposition party Actiune si Solidaritate (PAS), which supports Nastase, claimed in a social media post that there were over 40,000 protesters in the square.
On June 25, Moldova's Supreme Court invalidated the results of the Chisinau mayoral election in a final ruling, citing illegal campaigning on the voting day.
On June 28, the US embassy in Moldova called the court's decision 'non-transparent' and said that it represents a threat to Moldovan democracy.
"The winning candidate in Chisinau’s mayoral race received a majority of the votes. International observers found relatively minor irregularities that would not justify invalidation of the election results, and there were no calls from election participants to invalidate the results," the US embassy said in a statement.
"The Court’s unusual and unwarranted decision thwarts the electoral will of the Moldovan people and damages respect for the rule of law and democratic principles in Moldova," it added.
Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca resigned in February and was placed under house arrest after an investigation was launched against him over suspected influence peddling and abuse of power.
The largest political force in Moldova's parliament elected in 2014 is the Democratic Party (PD) with 41 of 101 seats.
The Socialist Party (PSRM) is the second biggest force in parliament with 24 seats, followed by the Liberal Party (PLD) and European Popular Parliamentary Group with 9 seats each. Then, the Communist Party has 6 MPs, Liberal Democratic Part (PLDM) has 5 seats, and independent MPs have 6 seats. One seat is vacant.