Municipality renews attempt to put Xmas tree in central square

The Chisinau authorities intend to erect a Christmas tree in the Great National Assembly Square, the city's central plaza, by Friday, December 19, and have its lights switched on in a formal ceremony by the 'new-style' Christmas on December 25, Info-Prim Neo reports. Mayor Dorin Chritoaca told today's ordinary meeting at the City Hall the intention was to install the Christmas tree by December 1, but the plans were thwarted by problems with the district heating and “threats from Moldovagaz and Termocom”. Last year the fir tree erected by the municipality in Chisinau's central square was moved overnight in mysterious circumstances to the back of the Triumphal Arch and eventually to a site in front of the City Hall's building. In its place, the central authorities installed what they called 'the Country's Main Tree', which was inaugurated as late as on December 28. The events finally grew into a Grinch-like story in which the municipal authorities blamed the government for being reluctant to celebrate Christmas as per the standard calendar, on December 25, like most European countries do (most Moldovan church-goers observe the Julian calendar and thus Christmas is celebrated two weeks later). The municipality also accused the police of having a role in displacing the tree, but the police denied any involvement. Despite probes into the incident, no results have been made public so far.