Chisinau residents held an anti-government rally at the presidential palace where Moldovan President Maia Sandu and the head of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola were meeting, on Friday.

The footage shows the protesters chanting 'Down with Maia Sandu', 'Resignation' and holding placards reading: 'We want to be in Europe, but without Maia Sandu', 'We want to live', and others.

The protesters came out to express their dissatisfaction with the living standards in the country. One of the protesters shared that she was dissatisfied with the size of her pension and the prices of utilities.

"The pension is such that you can't live on it, and such services that you can't pay for," the woman said.

On Friday, representatives of the Shor Party stated that they were refusing to attend the parliamentary session attended by Roberta Metsola.

"Attending Friday's meeting would mean recognising the legitimacy of this government, which has brought the people to their knees by poverty, human rights violations and the usurpation of power in the state," the message reads.

The party's press service added that Shor deputies would take to the streets with the protesters and continue 'the fight for a change of power'.

The rally was accompanied by representatives of law enforcement agencies. No official information about detentions has been reported.

On Friday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola arrived in Chisinau for a meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu and cabinet representatives. During the talks, the prospects for the country's accession to the EU were discussed, as well as the steps to be taken to this end.

In May, mass anti-government rallies began in the country over soaring energy and food prices, as well as falling living standards and record-high inflation.