Representatives of several opposition parties protested in front of the headquarters of the National Agency for Energy Regulation, during the meeting where Energocom’s request for a natural gas price increase was examined. The protesters criticized the government and accused it of irresponsibility towards citizens, reports IPN.
The participants in the demonstration criticized the increase in natural gas tariffs, arguing that this will lead to chain price increases. The protesters asked the authorities to explain how the new tariffs were calculated.
The mayor of the capital and leader of the National Alternative Movement Party, Ion Ceban, stated that the increase in tariffs will particularly affect pensioners, teachers, and doctors, and will also put pressure on local budgets, from which more money will have to be directed towards other needs, to the detriment of projects for citizens.
In turn, the deputy of the Socialist Party and vice-president of the Parliament, Vlad Batrincea, urged citizens who oppose the tariff increases to protest and publicly express their dissatisfaction. At the same time, the socialist called for the liquidation of Energocom.
The leader of the Home Democracy Party, Vasile Costiuc, said that the demonstration is “a cry of despair from a people”, stating that people want to be able to live decently in the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, the deputy criticized the online conduct of ANRE meetings, instead of physical presence, and argued that the representatives of the institution should discuss directly with the dissatisfied citizens.
In the context of the protest, ANRE stated that the process of approving the new prices was transparent, and all requests, calculations, and decisions were made public. The agency maintains that the subject was discussed even with representatives of the opposition, experts, and civil society. ANRE says it respects the right to protest, but believes that the debate should be based on complete information about the formation of gas prices.
During the meeting, ANRE approved the increase of the natural gas tariff from 20.30 to 26.14 lei per cubic meter, including VAT. The new tariff for domestic consumers will come into effect on October 1, with an increase of 5.84 lei.
