Communist protest spoiled by pensioners

A group of young people representing the “Social Action” movement, accompanied by Communist MP Eduard Musuc and the head of the Communist faction in the City Council Valeri Pavlov, staged a rally outside the Chisinau City Hall building today to protest the “never-ending rise” in utility prices. A group of counter-demonstrating pensioners gathered in the same place to support the reforms of the municipality and defend Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We can no longer live surrounded by foul smell, expensive utility bills, all the sleazy things that are done in the capital city must be condemned”, declared Eduard Musuc. “No one expected that in just a couple of months the mayor could raise the rates so high. We have no choice but to protest and spread the word across the country so that everyone knows what kind of policy the mayor follows”, said the Communist deputy. “How much more can they invent price hikes? What has changed since Dorin Chirtoaca became mayor. Nothing!”, added councilman Pavlov. Natalia Guseeva, a young member of the “Social Action”, said that with the new leadership at the City Hall the stipends are inadequate, there is no room at the dormitories, the tuition fees are high, and the youth are leaving abroad because they have no jobs here. In retort, a counter-demonstrating pensioner, Vera Palamarciuc, said her salary as a servicewoman is enough, while her children are doing great at school and they receive stipends. Ion Scobioala, another pensioner, said the Communist protest was intended to arouse animosity. “It is the fault of the Communists, who left behind huge debts that the mayor must handle now. They had ridden our backs eight years, and now they come here to protest against prosperity”, said the man. Decisions concerning the rise in rates on water, sanitation and block maintenance are adopted by the City Council, while rates on gas, heating and electricity are raised by the National Energy Regulatory Agency.