An opposition protest took place in Chisinau against the state of emergency and tariff increases

The opposition Party of Communists in Moldova (PCRM) led supporters to a picket at the government building in Chisinau, protesting against the introduction of a state of emergency and the next round of increases in energy tariffs; the action was broadcast on the political force’s page on the social network Facebook*.

On Saturday, a state of emergency in the energy sector came into force in the republic for a period of 60 days, approved by parliament at an extraordinary meeting at the request of the government due to the threat of resource shortages.

“We took part in this flash mob to protest against the increase in tariffs and the state of emergency. The constant extension of the state of emergency demonstrates the inability of the government to lead the state within the framework of the law, and citizens are paying for the political adventures of the authorities from their own pockets,” PCRM leader, parliament member Diana Caraman said at the rally.

The parliamentarian added that true energy security lies in the pragmatic diversification of supplies and the search for available resources, and not in abandoning traditional partners.

Another communist deputy, Adrian Domentiuc, noted that the state accumulates about five lei (approximately $0.3) in taxes from each liter of automobile fuel and has the tools to curb prices, but shifts the burden of the crisis onto the population.

Earlier, the National Energy Regulatory Agency accepted for consideration the application of the state company Energocom to increase natural gas tariffs from October 1. The rally that took place in Chisinau opened the wave of protests announced by the opposition: on September 28, supporters of the National Alternative Movement party of the capital's mayor Ivan Ceban are planning to take part in street rallies, and the Party of Socialists of ex-president Igor Dodon is preparing speeches at the end of October.

Moldova is experiencing a protracted economic crisis, accompanied by high inflation and rising public debt. The opposition has repeatedly accused the country's presidential team of incompetence and inability to cope with the decline in the population's living standards amid the severance of traditional economic ties with the CIS and the energy crisis.