The “Moldova Prepared” program launches on November 19 in Chisinau

On 19 November, the authorities will launch the first nationwide campaign to prepare the public for crisis situations, marking the start of the “Moldova Prepared” programme. The campaign will begin in Chisinau with the National Resilience Congress, where a resilience guide and an emergency backpack will be presented, among other resources, IPN reports.

The National Crisis Management Centre said in a press release that the initiative aims to help citizens recognise risks, learn how to protect themselves and prepare their households for the first 72 hours of an emergency.

The Congress will feature the presentation of the Resilience Guide for Families, Communities and Citizens, which will offer recommendations on preparing households for crisis situations, stocking up on essential supplies, communicating within the family and taking safety precautions. The contents of an emergency backpack will also be presented, with examples of items that families can prepare in advance according to their needs and financial means.

Another tool set to be launched is the “Alerts” module in the EVO app, which will enable citizens to receive information and notifications during crises. It will complement the authorities’ existing communication channels and will be separate from the MD-Alert system, which is scheduled to launch in 2027.

The programme also includes practical exercises simulating public health emergencies and crises caused by drones. These exercises will test how institutions share information, coordinate decisions and respond. The vision for the Community Resilience Platform will also be presented, outlining how interested organisations can help strengthen community capacity.

On November 20, the campaign will continue in Edineț, followed by Stefan-Voda on November 21. Activities in the north and south of the country will bring together representatives of local authorities, emergency services, educational institutions, and civil society.



Ombudsman Ceslav Panico is proposing amendments to the Labour Code to prevent employers from dismissing employees solely because they have reached retirement age. He is calling for additional safeguards, including a requirement for employers to provide written reasons for dismissal and assess each employee’s circumstances individually, IPN reports.

Current legislation allows an employee to be dismissed on the grounds of their status as an old-age pensioner, without expressly requiring the employer to demonstrate a genuine need for the measure. According to the Ombudsman, becoming entitled to a pension does not automatically mean that a person is no longer able to work or intends to retire from professional life. The issue is also significant in light of the economic circumstances of older people. In 2025, approximately 85,800 people aged 60 and over were employed, while the poverty rate among this age group stood at 38.9%, compared with 31.1% for the general population.

The Ombudsman’s analysis, drawing on cases documented by HelpAge Moldova, complaints received by the Ombudsman’s office, and the positions of trade unions and the Equality Council, shows that some employees were dismissed because they were pensioners, even though they wished to continue working. The repeal of this provision was also recommended by UN expert Claudia Mahler in her 2024 report on the Republic of Moldova, which stresses the need to protect older people against unjustified dismissal.

The Ombudsman acknowledges that promoting youth employment and renewing the workforce may be legitimate objectives. However, dismissing an employee who receives a pension does not guarantee that the position will be filled by a young person, and such a measure must be objectively justified, necessary and proportionate.

Accordingly, Ceslav Panico recommends that employers be required to provide written justification for the need to dismiss an employee, assess each employee’s circumstances individually, and consult them about their intention to continue working. He also proposes strengthening safeguards for challenging unjustified dismissals and obtaining appropriate remedies.

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The “Moldova Prepared” program launches on November 19 in Chisinau

On 19 November, the authorities will launch the first nationwide campaign to prepare the public for crisis situations, marking the start of the “Moldova Prepared” programme. The campaign will begin in Chisinau with the National Resilience Congress, where a resilience guide and an emergency backpack will be presented, among other resources, IPN reports.

The National Crisis Management Centre said in a press release that the initiative aims to help citizens recognise risks, learn how to protect themselves and prepare their households for the first 72 hours of an emergency.

The Congress will feature the presentation of the Resilience Guide for Families, Communities and Citizens, which will offer recommendations on preparing households for crisis situations, stocking up on essential supplies, communicating within the family and taking safety precautions. The contents of an emergency backpack will also be presented, with examples of items that families can prepare in advance according to their needs and financial means.

Another tool set to be launched is the “Alerts” module in the EVO app, which will enable citizens to receive information and notifications during crises. It will complement the authorities’ existing communication channels and will be separate from the MD-Alert system, which is scheduled to launch in 2027.

The programme also includes practical exercises simulating public health emergencies and crises caused by drones. These exercises will test how institutions share information, coordinate decisions and respond. The vision for the Community Resilience Platform will also be presented, outlining how interested organisations can help strengthen community capacity.

On November 20, the campaign will continue in Edineț, followed by Stefan-Voda on November 21. Activities in the north and south of the country will bring together representatives of local authorities, emergency services, educational institutions, and civil society.


The election campaign for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia reveals a difference between the messages of party-backed candidates and those running as independents. The former focus more on legislative initiatives and changes across the autonomous region, while independents emphasise issues facing their local communities. Serghei Neicovcen, executive director of the Contact Centre NGO, made these remarks during a public debate hosted by IPN on “The Distinctive Features of the 2026 Elections to the People’s Assembly of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia”.

According to Serghei Neicovcen, many independent candidates promise to address issues such as repairing roads and pavements, supplying communities with gas and drinking water, or building sewerage systems. These responsibilities, however, lie with mayors and local councils, not the People’s Assembly. He explained that, under the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia, the People’s Assembly’s powers extend to the entire autonomous region. The institution serves as a regional parliament, adopting laws and decisions for the region as a whole, rather than for individual communities.

The director of the Contact Centre also said that many independent candidates are ill-prepared to serve in the People’s Assembly, having been put forward by their communities in the hope that they will help develop their towns and villages. In his view, this approach could undermine the ability of first-tier local authorities to carry out their responsibilities.

Discussing the progress of the campaign, the expert noted that the election to the People’s Assembly has attracted less attention than the contest for the post of Bashkan, which has drawn greater scrutiny, partly because of the controversies and disinformation surrounding it. According to him, the election campaign for Gagauzia’s legislature has so far unfolded in a relatively calm atmosphere.

Another issue highlighted by the speaker was the underrepresentation of women. They account for just 17% of all candidates, indicating that the election is not inclusive. He also raised the question of whether people with disabilities and national minorities would have a fair chance of being represented in the People’s Assembly.

Serghei Neicovcen also noted the presence of young candidates seeking to enter public life and help bring about change in Gagauzia. In his view, the central authorities have this time created better conditions for free and fair elections through the decisions they have adopted and the amendments they have made to the Electoral Code. These measures aim to safeguard voters’ right to cast their ballots freely, without pressure or vote-buying, while also fostering a better understanding of the autonomous region and its integration into the Republic of Moldova.

The CONTACT Centre NGO is a member of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections. Elections to the People’s Assembly and for the post of Bashkan of Gagauzia are scheduled for November 15.

The public debate “The Particularities of the 2026 Elections to the People’s Assembly of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia” is the 362nd edition of the series “Developing Political Culture through Public Debate.” IPN News Agency organizes this series with the support of Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation.


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1 IANUARIE, 2025
1 IANUARIE, 2025