The Party of Socialists (PSRM) proposes indexing the pensions two times a year, not once a year as now, and returning to the previous retirement age of 57 years for women and 62 years for men. The proposals are contained in a legislative initiative of President Igor Dodon, which was presented by a group of Socialist MPs on March 15, IPN reports.

MP Vladimir Odnostalko told a news conference that the pensions on April 1 this year will be raised by only 6.4% at a time when the prices of medical services, food products and other basic necessities go up. Some 90% of the about 600,000 pensioners have a minimum pension that does not cover the minimum subsistence level.

MP Victor Sorocean said the bill proposed by the Head of State envisions the indexation of pensions two times a year, by at least 20% annually, on April 1 and October 1. In 2015, the Party of Socialists presented a similar initiative, but this hasn’t been yet included in the agenda of Parliament.

MP Vlad Batrancea stated the bill provides that the minimum pensions will cover at least the minimum subsistence level that is now of 1,300 lei. It is also suggested to equitably distribute the pension fund so that that indexation is gradual and depends on the size of pension. The higher the pension is, the lower the indexation percentage should be and vice versa. For example, in case of pensioners with small pensions, there should be used an indexation percentage of 20%, while in case of those with pensions of 5,000-10,000 lei, the percentage should be lower and social equity will be thus ensured.

The Socialists also said that given the inaction of the government and the conditions in which the pensioners have to struggle to survive, it seems that the authorities plan a social genocide to get rid of the elderly people.