Criticism of government narrative
Former MP Olesya Stamate has pointed to a growing gap between official statements and the daily reality faced by citizens.
In an interview, she argued that while authorities emphasize progress on EU integration and reforms, socio-economic indicators suggest a more difficult situation on the ground.
Rising poverty indicators
According to Stamate, Moldova faces a significant budget deficit of around 20 billion lei and a high level of public and external debt. More critically, she highlighted a sharp increase in poverty.
Absolute poverty rose from 24% in 2021 to 33.6% in 2024 – an increase of nearly 10 percentage points in three years.
Child hunger as a key concern
She stressed that the most alarming indicator is the situation of children.
“Every third or fourth child in our society goes to bed hungry. What kind of development can we talk about with such figures?” Stamate said.
Government response questioned
Stamate also questioned how long authorities can attribute economic difficulties to external factors such as war or the energy crisis. In her view, the key issue is not the presence of crises, but how governments respond to them.
She argued that current responses appear insufficient, with poverty continuing to rise.
Debate over policy priorities
At the same time, recent government initiatives have focused on adjusting salaries for certain categories of public officials, including senior leadership.
Finance Minister Adrian Gavrilita stated that compensation levels should reflect the responsibilities of high-ranking positions, and that salary adjustments will vary depending on existing disparities.
The contrast between rising social challenges and policy priorities has intensified debate over economic policy and resource allocation in Moldova.
