A number of farmers in southern Moldova have taken their tractors out on the roads in protest. They call on the head of state to remit back to Parliament the recently passed special law regarding farmers for being amended based on the demands put forward by the Farmers’ Force Association. The farmers also demanded to start the legal procedure for dismissing Minister Vladimir Bolea, IPN reports.

The members of the Farmers’ Force Association are dissatisfied with the fact that none of their proposals were taken into account by the authorities when they drafted the regulations on the distribution of the aid of 100 million lei and the special law in connection with this year’s drought.

The law that was adopted last Friday by Parliament provides for the suspension of farmers’ debts for a period of six months. However, according to the Association, only 20% of them will have their debts suspended, and immediately after the expiration of that term, they will also face insolvency proceedings as in spring, when the six months will pass, farmers will not have money to pay the debts. The farmers believe that, due to the new special law, the farmers who do not meet the requirements and then, in half a year, the other 20 percent of farmers risk going bankrupt.

In a video on Facebook, farmer Sergiu Stefanco explained that the farmers in Cahul, Cantemir, ATU Gagauzia and other localities continue to protest because nothing has been done for three years to support them and the decision-makers fully ignore them. “The main request is to sit down at the discussion table and listen to the demands put forward by farmers,” stated Stefanco. He, like other members of the Association, said that Vladimir Bolea should quit as minister as he has no idea what agriculture means.