Moldovan opposition appeals to government to compensate citizens for soaring energy bills

Moldovan opposition on Wednesday urged that citizens must be monetarily compensated for high energy bills that y h to pay during winters amid ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine. In a remark with Russia's state-affiliated news agency Sputnik, Marina Tauber, vice-president of Moldovan opposition Sor party on March 8 said that Moldovan people h incurred exorbitant bills for heating and electricity as estimated one billion euros ($1.05 billion) that country received from EU over past two years, was insufficient to cover pricing for gas, heating as well as  electricity bills. 

"In winter period, citizens felt significantly burdened by increasing heating and electricity prices. That is why government is urged to compensate citizens for heating and electricity as part of protest 'Movement for People.' We are convinced that authorities have all necessary tools and finances for that," Tauber told Sputnik. 

Legislative proposal to resolve energy crisis blocked

According to Tauber, government in Moldova h tabled a legislative proposal to resolve existing social and economic crisis. But bill was blocked by ruling Action and Solidarity (PAS) party. Neighbouring Ukraine has been struggling with looming inflation and skyrocketing energy prices that soared to almost seven times compared to last year, 2022. "Our legislative initiatives covered issue of raising and indexing pensions and or social payments. But PAS ignored all our draft laws, it is not communicating with opposition. Inflation is now three times higher than pensions in country, and utility costs are immense," said vice-president of Moldovan opposition Sor party. 

National Energy Regulatory Agency of Moldova, ANRE, h previously hiked  electricity tariff for household consumers by about 25 per cent. increase in energy prices was witnessed in November last year due to Russian invasion of Ukraine and bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Starved with Russian gas that it was reliant on for several deces, both Moldova and Romania faced a dearth of gas and electricity as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen pledged to tackle lowered supply during her visit to country in September as inflation rose to 33.9 percent year-on-year. Prices of food also increased in September by almost 39 percent.