'Hidden motives' of elderly protests

The Government has accused the leaders of the pensioners' protests in downtown Chisinau of having a hidden agenda, after they refused on Wednesday, February 24, an invitation by Prime Minister Vlad Filat to delegate representatives for talks. Maia Laguta, the leading organizer of the protests, stated for her part that the demonstrators wanted public discussions. “I didn't want to go into the Government building. Instead we demanded that prime minister come out himself to speak in public. Every protester wanted to know how the Government would settle the issue”, Laguta told Info-Prim Neo. In a press release issued later in the day, the Government expressed regret about the protesters' gesture, reassuring them of the availability “to solve all the problems in an open, civilized and constructive dialogue”. Maia Laguta announced the protests would continue Thursday in Chisinau's central plaza. The demonstrators demand, among other, a minimum pension of 3,000 lei and cheaper utility bills.