Parliament is requested to adopt the package of anti-tobacco laws in the final reading. Dozens of people protested peacefully before the Parliament Building on July 17, chanting “Smoking shortens mandate”. They said that if the current government does not fulfill the promise to adopt the package of anti-tobacco legislation, their chances of winning the future elections will diminish considerably, IPN reports.

National Participation Council chairman Sergiu Ostaf said that tobacco has noxious effects on the people and the government must ban smoking in public places. “It was proven that two rooms cannot be separated so as to prevent tobacco smoke from entering each other. One day of delay costs us 1,000 lives,” he stated.

Sergiu Ostaf added that the teens are most exposed to the risk of starting smoking early. A group of children went to the entrance to the Parliament Building to hand over the MPs their written request not to be exposed to tobacco smoke. “It is only two days left until the end of the current parliamentary session. We demand that the authorities honor their commitments. These legislative changes will impose restrictions on large companies that pay small excise duties, but cause serious problems for the country,” stated Sergiu Ostaf.

Protesters said that about 6,500 Moldovans die from diseases caused by smoking. The state spends about 1 billion lei for treating such diseases, while economy loses 3.5 billion lei because people able to work die or lose the capacity to work owing to diseases caused by smoking.

The protest in support of the adoption of the package of anti-tobacco laws forms part of the civil society’s campaign “Countdown to fulfillment of the Government’s promises: 7 days – 7 priorities”.