The Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) said that the authorities are discriminating against unvaccinated teachers by forcing them to undergo out of pocket COVID-19 testing. AUR is categorically against limiting rights and freedoms based on vaccination. The party urged the authorities to annul this decision. Otherwise, the party threatened to go to court, to the Ombudsman and to the Constitutional Court.
In a press conference, AUR president Vlad Bilețchi said that the party strongly condemns the decision of the Extraordinary National Commission for Public Health (CENSP) and subsequent public statements regarding the testing of teachers, considering that the CENSP decision contradicts several laws and international treaties to which Moldova is party. "It concerns the decision that forces teachers, other state employees and state contractors. If they are not vaccinated and don't want to get vaccinated, they are mandated to take a COVID-19 test at their own expense", said the party leader. Vlad Bilețchi said that in some European countries, such as Romania, Germany, Austria, Estonia and other countries, COVID tests are free of charge, at the state's expense.
Vlad Bilețchi said that the decision is discriminatory against unvaccinated people and violates the Law on Equality, as well as several provisions of the Labor Code and international treaties to which Moldova is a party. The International Labor Organization Convention on Occupational Safety and Health, ratified by Parliament in 1996, provides that "occupational safety and health measures shall not entail any expense for workers" and that "occupational safety, hygiene and health measures shall under no circumstances entail any financial obligation on the part of workers".
In another vein, Vlad Bilețchi welcomed the official visit of Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu to Bucharest, scheduled for September 1. According to him, the visit is a good omen. Considering that "Romania is our partner and strategic brother in everything that involves the development of infrastructure, the development of the economy, the development of society in Moldova and is Molsova's best advocate before the European Union" the visit is a gesture of common sense. Additionally, Bilețchi said that it is very important for Moldova and the current administration to honor the commitments made so far to Romania and the European Union, which involves investing heavily in reforms, particularly in the justice system.
Furthermore, AUR strongly condemned President Maia Sandu's statement, which AUR quotes as saying that "employing a relative, in this case a cousin, in state structures is not a conflict of interest". Vlad Bilețchi said that, in fact, it is a conflict of interest, similar to those committed during Plahotniuc's and Dodon's regimes. Bilețchi said that "there should be no exceptions, no half-measures and no double standards". In his opinion, it is regretable that the president said that there is a lack of specialists for public office. He suggested that specialists might be identified outside the ruling party.
The politician said that the General Prosecutor's Office should interview PCRM leader Vladimir Voronin, who allegedly said that Igor Dodon had received 3 million euros for leaving the Party of Communists and creating the Party of Socialists, that he had allegedly received hundreds of thousands of euros in order to vote Nicolae Timofti into the presidential office, that he had allegedly received millions of euros to "serve Plahotniuc" and vote in favor of the mixed voting system, etc.
Vlad Bilețchi said that he will hold press conferences every week, where he will talk about the most significant social, economic or political events and that AUR will be available to the media and to the government in order to assist with democratic reforms.
Earlier, Health Minister Ala Nemerenco said that vaccination is not mandatory for teachers, while tests are, because the majority's right to health prevails over the personal right not to get vaccinated. The minister said that the state cannot afford testing expenses, because funds are needed for other priorities.
