Prime Minister Pavel Filip said that after a period with many crises and turbulence, Moldova during three years has witnessed a constant growth in most of the sectors and this growth will continue the next few years. Presenting the Government’s report on three years of office, the Premier said people’s revenues were increased not by populist statements, but by changes and reforms that ensured balance in the system and he is proud of this, IPN reports.
“I know that this Government didn’t have the privilege of others to come to power amid a wave of enthusiasm and populist statements. We took over in a difficult period for our country and swiftly understood that we must start work as the people were disappointed because they were deceived and we were to bring about changes that they would feel at home and tin the community. I think we managed to achieve a part of the objectives we set,” Pavel Filip stated in a news conference.
The Premier said the salaries of all the budget-funded employees were increased last December following the salary reform and no one will get a salary lower than 2,000 lei. As of January 1, the pensions of over half a million pensioners were increased by 10%, the average pension rising to almost 1,800 lei. On January 1, 2019, the pensions of those who work after retirement started to be recalculated and some of these could even double.
“Infrastructure was and is the national priority as in the 21st century we want to be able to say that we are a European country from geographical viewpoint and also from infrastructural viewpoint. We launched the broadest road repair program ever. Last year alone, we repaired 1,600 km of roads. For comparison, by 140 km on average a year were repaired in 2009-2015. We built roads in villages and areas that were permanently neglected in the past […] We will continue this program in 2019, when we intend to repair another 2,600 km of roads,” noted Pavel Filip.
He also mentioned the governmental programs, including the program to purchase over 100 ambulances, the program “Fist House”, the campaign “”A doctor for you”, PARE 1+1, DAR 1+3. The Premier said a constant economic growth of over 4% was ensured and this is one of the highest growth rates in the region.
As to the foreign policy, he assured that Moldova maintains the European course and the entry into the EU and the Association Agreements remain the compasses used to take and harmonize all the actions. “We have good relations with another states, 43 free trade agreements signed with different countries. We bank on the support of the United States, which is a strategic partner for our country. We have excellent relations with our neighbors in Bucharest and Kiev,” stated the official.
He also said that even if the opposition accuses the government of raising salaries and pensions in an electoral year, it is important to understand that the government took over in 2016 when the situation was disastrous. Changes that would bring money to the budget started to be made in 2017 and the larger amounts collected into the budget in 2018 enabled to make investments and to increase salaries, pensions and social welfare. The investments and raises will continue in 2019.
