Oleg Cernei: Fearing to lose 2009 elections, Communists decide to steal what is left in this country

About 100 members and followers of Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) picket the Government’s quarters on Wednesday, December 17, protesting against privatizing many state companies at low prices. They say they will protest the coming days till December 21. “The money got from selling these state assets has an electoral destination, and the miserable show with the Christmas Tree is meant to divert the public attention from these privatizations,” says Oleg Cernei, an AMN councilor in Chisinau. On the other hand, the auctioned goods will be acquired by the “clientele of the ruling coalition” at ridiculously low prices.” “After 8 years of rule, fearing to lose the 2009 elections, the Communists want to steal what is left,” Oleg Cernei stated. Among the assets to be privatized, the councilor has mentioned Codru Hotel, for which the governance would ask some $6 million, and which is estimated by AMN representatives at 70 million euros. The resort in Truskavets, the Perfumery and Cosmetics Factory Viorica, the Chisinau Circus, the Ialoveni Wine Factory, and others are in the same situation: to be sold at prices under their market value, he added. According to Cernei, these goods will have the fate of the former quarters of the Privatization Department which, after being capitally repaired on tax-payers' money, now is owned by FinComBank, the manager of which is the President's son, Oleg Voronin. The protesters ask that the most important goods should be drawn from the list of assets for privatization. If these requests are not met, the protesters promise to apply more serious forms of protest, attended by other political parties.