A number of public associations, Internet users and MPs leveled harsh criticism at Socialist MP Vasile Bolea after this posted on Facebook that “the self-dissolution of Parliament is the invention of an autistic man that is rammed down the throat”. They demand that the MP should apologize publicly, IPN reports.
Representatives of the public association “SOS Autism” expressed their indignation, profound disgust and disappointment at the given statement. A posting on the association’s website says that after 12 years of titanic work, effort, resources patience and perseverance, during which they tried to attract the authorities’ attention to autistic children’s problems, now they are not sure that this state deserves to have these children.
The Federation for the Rights and Resources of Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders said it represents the over 700 children in Moldova who had the chance to be officially diagnosed with autism. “In this country, where 441,191 adults with the right to vote in the parliamentary elections of 2019 elected you, including your, Mister Bolea, to represent their interests, there are yet children with autism who haven’t been diagnosed. In 2019, one in 100 children globally suffered from autism,” the Federation posted on the Internet. It noted that the term used by the MP is embarrassing and demanded that he should apologize publicly for this imprudent message.
PPPDA MP Liviu Vovc said Vasile Bolea should apologize publicly for offending thousands of children and their parents.
PAS MP Sergiu Litvinenco stated that he realizes the political struggles are sometimes not at all simple, but there are limits that cannot and should never be crossed. His colleague could have found another word for saying what he meant as, in Moldovan society the children who are diagnosed with autism do not enjoy support from the state and the parents of these children sell their clothes and do many other things to ensure high-quality education and a more or less appropriate lifestyle for these children and “autistic” cannot be used as an offensive word. This is unacceptable and inadmissible.
