Several protest meetings to take place in Moldova’s regions on Monday

Several regional organisations of pensioners and veterans of the Social Democracy Party will protest on March 5 in front of the premises of raional councils against the apathy of the government and regional administration about the serious problems challenging aged people, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the party’s press service. Protests will take place in the raional centres of Basarabeasca, Cantemir, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Ialoveni, Stefan Voda, Soldanesti, Soroca, Cahul. The protests will be staged under the slogan “Requesting the right to a decent living”. Organisers say that this way protesters intend to attract the government and the local administration’s attention on the deplorable situation of the majority of aged people, who, given the increase in prices for food and other necessary products, are condemned to poverty and misery. Protesters also intend to call on the government to keep the promises made in the electoral campaign about increasing pensions and compensations, taking into consideration recent price hikes, as well as providing access of old people to free healthcare, compensated drugs and social assistance. The cited communiqué mentions that Soroca and Cahul Town Halls delayed the approval of the decision to authorise the protests, but, in compliance with art. 12 p.5 of the Law on organising and holding meetings, actions will do take place and the respective town halls have been sued. Local authorities in Soldanesti sent a response, stating that pensioners are satisfied with their situation and, thus, there is no need to stage protests at the Raional Council. In mid-February, the Small Business Association announced that, also on March 5, a simultaneous meeting will be held by patentees in all the cities and raions of Moldova, against the Law no. 208, which ceases the activity of patent holders. A decision in this sense was taken by the participants in the protest meeting on February 12, held in Chisinau. According to the action’s organisers, the promises made by the Government and Parliament are unreal, because these people from the poorest category of population cannot afford the “luxury” to create an individual enterprise with a bookkeeper, to pay tens of taxes, purchase a cash register for a sum of more than MDL 2000. Thus, people are forced to work on the black market or leave the country. After the synchronised meeting, another meeting will be held on March 12, in Chisinau. Patent holders say that they will protest till the Law no. 208 will be annulled.