The Pensioners Union of the Republic of Moldova submitted a statement to the President of the Republic of Moldova, the Government and resident ambassadors whereby it expresses its dissatisfaction with the difficult situation of the pensioners. By the statement, the pensioners ask to withdraw the law on the pension system reform and to increase pensions up to the minimum consumer basket, IPN reports.

In a news conference at IPN, chairman of the Pensioners Union Victor Leanca said the government brought the citizens to despair and destroyed their hopes of having a decent old age. “Beginning with the stealing of billions of lei from the state budget, the decision to transform the stolen billions into state debt and making of the impoverished population repay this, the authorities continued with the pension reform, the increase in electric power and heat tariffs and with the fabulous rise in prices of medicines and medical services, water, gas and, consecutively, of all the food products,” added Victor Leanca.

Among the Union’s demands are also to abrogate the law that makes the people pay the stolen billions of lei, to increase the pensions up to the minimum consumer basket and to create possibilities of opening pensioner service centers in each district and municipality.

“We, the generation with the richest life experience became the poorest and most miserable one because the corrupt government contributed to developing corruption and poverty in the country, especially as a result of the theft of the billions and laundering of foreign billions through the national banking system. We think that together with the restoration of the embezzled funds, out life will improve,” said the head of the Pensioners Union’s branch in Buiucani district Mihai Postovan.

Ion Tverdohleb, a member of the Board of the Pensioners Union, said the recent pension reform cannot ensure decent living conditions. “Pensions increased by 6.8%. The pensioners are the largest group of medicine users. But did the drug prices rise by only 6.8%? The situation with the basic necessities is the same,” stated Ion Tverdohleb.

Elena Bacinschi, head of the Patriotic Education Council of the Union’s Board, stated that the authorities, instead of being preoccupied with the improvement of the life of people, take care of the own interests and make laws that would keep them in power.

The members of the Pensioners Union of the Republic of Moldova said that if the authorities do not react within a month, they will take to the streets and will support civil society.