Members and sympathizers of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) protested in the center of Chisinau on May 29. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the increases in prices and tariffs and with the arrest of ex-President Igor Dodon. The protesters chanted: “Down with Maia Sandu!”, “We want justice!”, “Shame!” and carried placards with such words as “No political prisoners”, “You brought only poverty and stealing! Down with the regime!”, “We are tired of circuses! Give us bread too!”, “PAS – synonym of poverty” etc.
Socialist MP Vlad Batrîncea, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said that a number of MPs of PSRM are followed by the current government and ex-President of Moldova Igor Dodon was arrested by order. The current government increased the budgets of the Constructional Court, the Presidential Office and the Executive, but this money can be allocated to the poor people. The MP called on the representatives of other parties to join in the protest and to obtain freedom for all the victims of the current regime as this forgot that the power belongs to the people. According to him, the protest involved several thousand people.
A female pensioner from Cricova town said that such a difficult situation hadn’t existed in Moldova even after World War II. “We hoped that Maia Sandu will bring about good things, but we are disappointed. Maia Sandu should not remain in the Republic of Moldova even after she leaves. Voronin, Dodon, Batrîncea, Ciobanu should come to power,” stated the protesters.
Journalist Elena Lewicka-Pahomova noted that the representatives of the media face difficulties in doing their job under the PAS government as some of the officials delay providing responses to the requests for information made by journalists.
Victor Gaiciuc, ex-minister of defense, said that under the PAS government, fuel and food prices and tariffs grew and the increases lead to poverty. “We heard that good times will come, but we see non-good times,” stated Victor Gaiciuc.
A woman who is the mother of five said she would like Maia Sandu to quiet as President and Igor Dodon to return to the office of President. She noted that it is hard for her to cope when she gets a pension of 1,400 lei and the benefit for a child is also 1,400 lei.
Leova distrust councilor Aliona Briceag said that during the PAS government, the local public administration of the first level gets by 30% less money from the state budget than during the time when the Socialists were in power.
Ex-minister of agriculture Ion Perju said the country is being pushed towards a socioeconomic collapse by PAS. Hundreds of agricultural producers are close to bankruptcy. The prices of fertilizers grew five-six times, of seeds –two-three times and the food prices also rose. Igor Dodon’s arrest was aimed at distracting public attention from problems faced in Moldova.
Fadei Nagacevschi, ex-minister of justice, said the people brought PAS to power and have now to demand that this party should leave. “When one party rules, this is dictatorships,” stated Fadei Nagacevschi.
At the end of the protest, the representatives of PSRM read a resolution and noted that the protests will continue the next days.
