Price of freedom becomes the week’s political bill
In her weekly news round-up, television presenter Olesea Caireac took Eugeniu Osmokescu’s advice seriously, calculated how much money MoldATSA had allegedly failed to transfer to the state budget, and tried to understand why a Moldovan power line had been named after Donald Trump.
“Today we are finding out how much freedom costs. It turns out it is expensive. Especially if we are the ones expected to pay for it, while the proceeds are managed by people who advise us to ‘pray’ and ‘turn down the heating’,” she began.
The new Strășeni–Gutinaș high-voltage line has been named the Trump Liberty Line. The project is backed by a USgrant worth $130 million, with a working group involving the Ministry of Energy, Moldelectrica, Black & Veatch and the US Embassy.
“The wires still have to be stretched, but the political current is already flowing. There is still plenty of work to do before there is light in the socket but as we can see they reached the ceremonial name much faster,” Caireac noted.
She asked questions that have yet to receive answers: who will supply the equipment, who will maintain the line, and how much will that cost later? As she put it, “The grant does not have to be repaid. But will maintenance also be a gift? Or is freedom free only at the connection stage?”
Gas, heating and advice to endure the cold
Since 1 October, a cubic metre of gas for households has cost 26.14 lei including VAT. That is almost 29% more than in September and more than 81% higher than in August. Heating in Chișinău has risen by 62%, while in Bălți it has increased by 53%.
The Minister of Energy explains expensive gas as the “price of freedom”. The prime minister suggests “praying for a warm winter”. Caireac’s response was pointed.
“Perhaps, then, the government’s salaries should also be paid in prayers? Sincere ones, from the whole people. Without VAT.”
Former economy minister Eugeniu Osmokescu said that he had lived abroad at 14 degrees and urged people to save energy. Caireac reminded viewers that in countries with central heating Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Finland radiators are already hot, while the World Health Organization treats 18 degrees as a safe benchmark for housing in the cold season.
“This advice sounds especially touching against the background of Osmokescu’s declaration: in 2025, income of more than 14 million lei, mainly from his previous work at the World Bank. With that kind of financial cushion, one can sleep at fourteen degrees. A pensioner on three thousand is offered character instead of a cushion,” the presenter said indignantly.
MoldATSA figures raise further questions
Caireac also recalled the super-profits at MoldATSA, which sharply increased after air traffic was redirected through Moldova, according to Dinu Plîngău, head of the parliamentary commission investigating the activity of state enterprises.
In 2025, around 202 million lei was spent on salaries almost half of the company’s revenue. The driver of the former director received 63,000 lei a month, while the press secretary, Maia Sandu’s cousin Anastasia Taburceanu, received up to 120,000 lei, according to press reports.
At the same time, the state is entitled to a share of the profit. In the case of MoldATSA, an exemption was proposed from transferring 13.08 million lei to the budget, allegedly for modernisation.
“Who will check where the money goes? And where are the results of the investigation?” Caireacasked.
Tănase proposal and the final bill
The programme also turned to former Constitutional Court president Alexandru Tănase, who proposed banning entry to Moldova for anyone who had ever been in Russia.
“That means our own citizens who worked there or visited relatives could also be hit. The Constitution guarantees citizens the right to return home. Apparently, the former chairman has decided that the Constitution can also be made former,” Caireac commented.
She summed up the week in the same tone: electricity had been given a name, expensive gas had been given a justification, and cold flats had been given someone to blame.
“All that remains is to invent how to live. Although no, that has already been assigned to us.”
“Take care of yourselves, and do not hand the thermostat over to ministers.”
For Caireac, the point was not only the tariffs, the grants or the unanswered questions around state companies. It was the political logic behind them: the public pays the price of freedom, while officials name projects, explain away bills and advise citizens to endure the cold.
