The Chisinau City Council met today to analyze its September 15 decision to increase fees for water consumption and public transportation, as well as to take away the right of retirees to use public transportation for free. The meeting was called after hundreds of elderly protesters have been gathering in downtown Chisinau for two days in a row to protest against the decision.
Some of the elderly men and women who were still in front of Chisinau City Hall when the decision was announced said they would protest tomorrow, as well.
h/t www.stireazilei.md
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Retirees gather in downtown Chisinau again to protest City Council decision to hike fees, block traffic downtown
A few hundred retirees gathered in front of Chisinau City Hall today to protest against the City Council's decision on September 15 to increase fees for water consumption and public transportation, and to take away the right of pensioneers to use public transportation for free.
The demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Chisinau and asked for their public transportation privileges to be returned. Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, who was assaulted by protesters yesterday (see an Imedia report about how events unfolded yesterday here), said that retiress would get an additional subsidy of 70 lei (about seven U.S. dollars) for transportation, which did not go over well with the crowd.
On the other hand, protesters today were also greeted by Mr. Chirtoaca's supporters, some of whom were retirees from outside of Chisinau who complained that Chisinau elderly residents were asking for too many privileges. Media outlets have also shown elderly men and women fight about whether they should speak Russian or Romanian during the protests, and many protesters were accused of supporting the Party of Communists, which recently lost legislative elections.
h/t www.protv.md
www.stireazilei.md
www.jurnal.md
The demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Chisinau and asked for their public transportation privileges to be returned. Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, who was assaulted by protesters yesterday (see an Imedia report about how events unfolded yesterday here), said that retiress would get an additional subsidy of 70 lei (about seven U.S. dollars) for transportation, which did not go over well with the crowd.
On the other hand, protesters today were also greeted by Mr. Chirtoaca's supporters, some of whom were retirees from outside of Chisinau who complained that Chisinau elderly residents were asking for too many privileges. Media outlets have also shown elderly men and women fight about whether they should speak Russian or Romanian during the protests, and many protesters were accused of supporting the Party of Communists, which recently lost legislative elections.
h/t www.protv.md
www.stireazilei.md
www.jurnal.md
Mass media NGOs ask new Government to reform media landscape in Moldova and ensure freedom of expression in the country
Leading mass media non-governmental organizations recently sent a letter of requests and recommendations to the legislative committee on culture, education, research, sports, and mass media and to Speaker and interim President Mihai Ghimpu.
The letter includes five recommendations: reforming the public television and radio stations, which have often been accused of being pro-Communist; reforming the Broadcasting Coordinating Council, which releases and withdraws broadcasting licenses in the country and has in the past been accused of favoring pro-Communist media outlets; reducing state involvement in the mass media; stimulating the development of an independent press; and implementing legislative reform.
Ties between independent media outlets and the former Communist Government (2001-2009) have often been hostile. Officials restricted access to information and favored the pro-Governmental press. In addition, independent journalists have often been persecuted, especially after the mass protests on April 6 and 7. The new Government has pledged to improve this situation.
h/t www.unimedia.md
The letter includes five recommendations: reforming the public television and radio stations, which have often been accused of being pro-Communist; reforming the Broadcasting Coordinating Council, which releases and withdraws broadcasting licenses in the country and has in the past been accused of favoring pro-Communist media outlets; reducing state involvement in the mass media; stimulating the development of an independent press; and implementing legislative reform.
Ties between independent media outlets and the former Communist Government (2001-2009) have often been hostile. Officials restricted access to information and favored the pro-Governmental press. In addition, independent journalists have often been persecuted, especially after the mass protests on April 6 and 7. The new Government has pledged to improve this situation.
h/t www.unimedia.md
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to attend CIS summit in Chisinau on October 8-9
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko will most likely attend the Commonwealth of Independent Countries summit in Chisinau between October 8 and 9.
Mr. Yushchenko recently told the press he will meet with his Russian counterpart in the Moldovan capital. The meeting is yet to be confirmed by Moscow.
h/t www.unimedia.md
Mr. Yushchenko recently told the press he will meet with his Russian counterpart in the Moldovan capital. The meeting is yet to be confirmed by Moscow.
h/t www.unimedia.md
Russian P.M. Vladimir Putin congratulates Moldovan P.M. Vlad Filat on his appointment
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin recently sent a telegram to his Moldovan counterpart, whom he congratulated on his recent appointment.
The telegram says that "Moldovan-Russian ties are based on traditions of friendship and mutual respect. I am convinced that their multilateral evolution corresponds to the rooted interests of the peoples of our countries."
The new ruling Alliance for European Integration is more pro-Western than the previous Communist-run Government (2001-2009), which has caused some recent tension with Russian authorities. The Alliance has said, however, that it seeks good ties with the Kremlin.
The telegram says that "Moldovan-Russian ties are based on traditions of friendship and mutual respect. I am convinced that their multilateral evolution corresponds to the rooted interests of the peoples of our countries."
The new ruling Alliance for European Integration is more pro-Western than the previous Communist-run Government (2001-2009), which has caused some recent tension with Russian authorities. The Alliance has said, however, that it seeks good ties with the Kremlin.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Prime Minister Vlad Filat in Brussels for talks with European officials
Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Foreign Affairs Minister Iurie Leanca are in Brussels today for talks with European Union officials.
Mr. Filat said he would speak in his native Romanian, in large part because many of the European Parliament M.P.s with whom he talked are from Romania. Mr. Filat also noted that he hopes Romanian will replace Moldovan as the official language in the country.
The name of the language spoken in Moldova has been a controversial topic since the country's independence. The Constitution says that the official language is "Moldovan with Latin script," but most have acknowledged that Romanian and Moldovan are indistinguishable from one another. Communist M.P. Grigore Petrenco admitted this recently, but said that Moldovans have the right to call their language whatever they want. The Party of Communists is normally very supportive of keeping the name "Moldovan," while most of the Alliance for European Integration M.P.s call it "Romanian."
The premier started his conversation with European Parliament M.P.s by saying that Moldova had been run by "Soviet militia general" Vladimir Voronin for eight years, during which time about one million Moldovans left the country. He then went on to answer questions about the freedom of the press, the resolution of the Transnistrian crisis, the Eastern Partnership, and other topics. Most of the European M.P.s who spoke said the European Union should do more to help Moldova.
The ruling Alliance for European Integration is expected to have better ties with the European Union than the Party of Communists did. The coalition's main priority is European integration, and most of its M.P.s and cabinet members are well-known for being pro-Western.
h/t www.unimedia.md
Mr. Filat said he would speak in his native Romanian, in large part because many of the European Parliament M.P.s with whom he talked are from Romania. Mr. Filat also noted that he hopes Romanian will replace Moldovan as the official language in the country.
The name of the language spoken in Moldova has been a controversial topic since the country's independence. The Constitution says that the official language is "Moldovan with Latin script," but most have acknowledged that Romanian and Moldovan are indistinguishable from one another. Communist M.P. Grigore Petrenco admitted this recently, but said that Moldovans have the right to call their language whatever they want. The Party of Communists is normally very supportive of keeping the name "Moldovan," while most of the Alliance for European Integration M.P.s call it "Romanian."
The premier started his conversation with European Parliament M.P.s by saying that Moldova had been run by "Soviet militia general" Vladimir Voronin for eight years, during which time about one million Moldovans left the country. He then went on to answer questions about the freedom of the press, the resolution of the Transnistrian crisis, the Eastern Partnership, and other topics. Most of the European M.P.s who spoke said the European Union should do more to help Moldova.
The ruling Alliance for European Integration is expected to have better ties with the European Union than the Party of Communists did. The coalition's main priority is European integration, and most of its M.P.s and cabinet members are well-known for being pro-Western.
h/t www.unimedia.md
A few hundred retirees protest Chisinau City Council decision to increase fees for water and public transportation, assault mayor Dorin Chirtoaca
About 500 old men and women gathered in front of Chisinau City Hall today to protest the City Council's decision to increase fees for water consumption and public transportation. Retirees also cannot use public transportation for free anymore.
The protesters blocked traffic on Chisinau's main street for a few hours. At one point, mayor Dorin Chirtoaca stepped out to speak with the crowd, but was assaulted by some of the protesters. Mr. Chirtoaca was punched by someone in the crowd and later had to withdraw into the city hall building. City counsellor Oleg Cernei was also pushed and shoved.
Maia Laguta, head of the Salvgardare Association and one of the organizers of the protests, demanded that the City Council decisions be cancelled and threatened that if her requests weren't fulfilled she would organize protests every day until they were.
Mr. Chirtoaca met with Ms. Laguta, after which protests were ceased for the day. Mr. Chirtoaca accused Ms. Laguta of staging a political rally since she said the City Council's decision to up fees was an attempt to punish Communist voters. Most elderly people vote for the Party of Communists.
After talks, mayor Chirtoaca decided to call an urgent City Council meeting on September 30 to reanalyze the decisions. A few hours ago, Chisinau City Hall also released a press statement saying it would increase subsidies for retirees, people with disabilities, and the unemployed.
The press release added, however, that the Chisinau city budget is overwhelmed by social welfare demands since more than 100,000 people can use public transportation for free.
In a related story, Unimedia posted a hidden-camera recording by journalist Petru Terguta in which one of the protesters says that the demonstration was organized by a Communist M.P. whose name is Ereomenco. The woman may be referring to Vladimir Eremciuc. Whatever the case may be, the protest seems to have taken on a political nature as some of the retirees carried Communist banners and said times were better when the Communist Party was in power.
h/t www.unimedia.md
www.stireazilei.md
www.jurnal.md
The protesters blocked traffic on Chisinau's main street for a few hours. At one point, mayor Dorin Chirtoaca stepped out to speak with the crowd, but was assaulted by some of the protesters. Mr. Chirtoaca was punched by someone in the crowd and later had to withdraw into the city hall building. City counsellor Oleg Cernei was also pushed and shoved.
Maia Laguta, head of the Salvgardare Association and one of the organizers of the protests, demanded that the City Council decisions be cancelled and threatened that if her requests weren't fulfilled she would organize protests every day until they were.
Mr. Chirtoaca met with Ms. Laguta, after which protests were ceased for the day. Mr. Chirtoaca accused Ms. Laguta of staging a political rally since she said the City Council's decision to up fees was an attempt to punish Communist voters. Most elderly people vote for the Party of Communists.
After talks, mayor Chirtoaca decided to call an urgent City Council meeting on September 30 to reanalyze the decisions. A few hours ago, Chisinau City Hall also released a press statement saying it would increase subsidies for retirees, people with disabilities, and the unemployed.
The press release added, however, that the Chisinau city budget is overwhelmed by social welfare demands since more than 100,000 people can use public transportation for free.
In a related story, Unimedia posted a hidden-camera recording by journalist Petru Terguta in which one of the protesters says that the demonstration was organized by a Communist M.P. whose name is Ereomenco. The woman may be referring to Vladimir Eremciuc. Whatever the case may be, the protest seems to have taken on a political nature as some of the retirees carried Communist banners and said times were better when the Communist Party was in power.
h/t www.unimedia.md
www.stireazilei.md
www.jurnal.md
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
