70% of the regular national routes were suspended on the first day of the carriers’ protest and in more than 10 districts they were suspended in proportion of 90% to 100%, Oleg Alexa, chairman of the Council of the Employers’ Association of Road Transport Operators (APOTA), told IPN.
Oleg Alexa said the carriers were subjected to pressures and threats, with the involvement of some of the MPs, police commissariats, district authorities. They are threatened with criminal cases. Perhaps someone gave in and didn’t come to the protest.
According to the chairman of the Council of the Employers’ Association of Road Transport Operators, the carriers demand programs for the national transport. The regulation of the work of bus stations and the use of cash registers must be similar to those in the EU. So far, the authorities haven’t given signals that they intend to discuss carriers’ demands. That’s why the protest will continue.
In a reaction, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu thanked all the drivers and road transport operators who went to work today and provided people with transport. According to the minister, during the last few days he had several discussions with carriers that do not support the blocking of routes and today most of the carriers were at work.
“The people need modern transport, newer buses and minibuses, ticketing of passengers, sufficient routes at the necessary time and days for residents of towns and villages. The drivers must be treated fairly, without daily taxes in exchange for permits issued by monopolists,” wrote Andrei Spînu.
