Pensioners stage protest against high charges

A protest took place in the Great National Assembly Square on November 12. Organized by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and a number of public organizations, dozens of persons, mainly elderly, protested against the rise in the tariffs on public utilities and the low pensions and salaries, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We are unable to pay the bills. We do not have enough money at least for food. Our children do not live better. I save money from my pension and buy food for my children and grandchildren. I worked my whole life and now have a pension of 1 000 lei. The public utilities cost more than 1 500 lei a month. How should we live?” said pensioner Eufrosia Onduleac. The protesters chanted “Down with the government”, “We want decent pensions”, “Down with the ANRE” and demanded that the Government should increase the pensions and reduce the charges. “Poverty makes us take to the street. We cannot pay for gas, electric power and water with our pension. Why should I pay 50 lei more for water that is wasted? We want justice to be done,” said another protester, who did not want to tell her name. PSD secretary general Sergiu Coropceanu said the officials who go to Brussels and Moscow and have guaranteed salaries and pensions and warm seats do not think about the elderly persons. “The authorities must understand that they bear responsibility not towards the EU, but towards the Moldovan people,” he stated. The protesters submitted their demands to the Government. The PSD said they will sue the executive if no reaction followso. The party staged similar protests in Anenii Noi, Balti, Vulcanesti, Cahul, Comrat, and Drochia. According to the organizers, about 300 persons took part in the protest in Chisinau.