PENSIONERS UNION CALLS THE ELDERLY TO PROTEST ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Union of Pensioners of Moldova is calling its supporters to come out on the Independence Day of August 27 for an action of protest against miserable pensions and high prices and utility rates.

Union Chairman Victor Leanca said at a news conference on Tuesday: "Each pensioner in Moldova is discontented with his or her life because our miserable pensions are insufficient for survival, with an account of high prices on food, medicines, utility rates - on everything. But the hardest living conditions are suffered by pensioners in rural localities, who are separated from their children earning their living in foreign countries far from their ageing parents. But our authorities don't care. Well, we have elected this government ourselves. We trusted them, but the government is working against us. We have nothing except a hope. But we cannot wait any longer in silence, so we must struggle against the corrupt authorities".

Mihai Postolache of the Union leadership stated: "The acquiring of the independence in 1991 gave us hope that Moldova would develop into a powerful and rich country. But the state power was grasped by incompetent people who failed to cope with the historic mission. We are approaching the 26th independence anniversary with tears in our eyes due to the impasse situation. Pensions went through a war and famine, and now we are supposed to struggle once again for the sake of not dying of starvation".