President Maia Sandu accuses the Competition Council of inaction to the rise in fuel prices, which she considers are set based on a cartel agreement between oil companies, IPN reports.

“Oil prices are set based on a cartel agreement. The state institutions that should prevent the abusive rise in prices keep silent. The Competition Council, which should prevent and penalize these abusive rises, does not do anything. Those persons have received high pays from the state during many years, but they haven’t done their job. Since 2019, we have asked to replace the management of the Competition Council, but this institution is subordinate to Parliament,” Maia Sandu stated in the talk show “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1.

The official noted the presidential institution does not have instruments to intervene in the price regulation process as the Competition Council is under parliamentary control.

“This abuse in oil prices is a proof of the weakness of the state. When persons who are someone’s relatives or who come from a political party are named to public posts, we reach such a situation. I hope honest persons will be named in all the state institutions after the elections. A parliamentary majority consisting of honest persons will be interested in appointing honest persons in the Cabinet, at the Competition Council, at the Audiovisual Council,” said Maia Sandu.

During the last six months, the price of a liter of gasoline in Moldova rose by over 5 lei, which is 33%. Recently, President Maia Sandu promulgated the law that caps the prices of oil products. In accordance with the new calculation methodology, the National Agency for Energy Regulation will set price caps for gasoline and diesel fuel depending on the fluctuations on the international market and oil companies will have to abide by them.