Members and sympathizers of the Party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS) requested the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) to hasten the review of the natural gas tariffs paid by end-users. The request was made in a protest staged in front of the Agency’s head office on February 6 and was supported by a petition signed by 1,200 persons, IPN reports.

“We came to ask them when they will decrease the gas tariffs. Owing to the high gas tariffs, we pay higher tariffs for heat too. We ask representatives of the NAER to come out and tell us when they will reduce the gas tariff. We do not intend to wait until the elections come,” said a woman protester.

The PAS leader Maia Sandu submitted the petition whereby the 1,200 signatories ask to hasten the review of tariffs to the NAER. “We have a government that accuses us of populism when we point to their mistakes and that wants to use this situation in the election campaign. They want to make these changes closer to the parliamentary elections so that some of the people believe that this is a present from the Democratic Party. We do not need alms. We want to pay the real, not exaggerated price,” stated Maia Sandu.

The protesters made reference to energy experts’ assessments according to which the consumers have paid 1.5 billion lei extra tariffs as the import price of gas decreased, while the tariff wasn’t adjusted.

“The tariffs should match the real costs. You are right when you say that the managers of the institution have very high salaries. The international community demanded high salaries so that they do not allow to be corrupted by business entities or an industry. But we have an agency that does not implement the law and ignores people’s interests. The tariff should be adjusted as the law provides, not as Moldovagaz and Premier Filip want,” stated Maia Sandu.

Independent energy experts said there are preconditions for the gas tariffs to be decreased by 30%. Prime Minister Pavel Filip stated the tariffs could be reduced by up to 20%.