The farmers’ protest in the Great National Assembly Square of Chisinau continues. The protesters are dissatisfied with the provisions of the budgetary-fiscal policy, especially the rise in the VAT rate on primary agricultural production from 8% to 12%. The farmers seek the resignation of Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ion Perju and of the whole Government, IPN reports.

Vasile Myrzenko, head of the National Farmers Federation, said the farmers are indignant as the responsible authorities have ignored them for half a year and this makes them take to the streets. He called on the MPs who kept common sense not to allow adopting the budgetary-fiscal policy proposed by the Government as this unjustifiably increases the costs for particular institutions. The money should be used to satisfy urgent needs. The farmers do not have money to sow the fields now and need support.

Vlad Ciobanu, a farmer from Rezina, said that Minister Ion Perju on December 14 accused them of politicizing the situation, but this is not so. “We work and bring bread to the table,” he stated.

Protester Sergiu Stefanco said that since July 27 they have tried to communicate with the authorities, but all in vain. The Government favors the importers instead of supporting the national producers. The budgetary-fiscal policy robs the people.

Farmer Daniel Duminică noted that Moldova, being an agrarian country, should invest in high-value agriculture, with modern irrigation systems. By increasing the VAT rate, the farmers will be put in a more difficult situation.

The farmers are ready to continue protesting and called on other mates to join in.