- Citizens and opposition MPs are criticizing PAS for unjustified tariff increases that hit the pockets of the most vulnerable twice over, but the ruling regime does not hear them: it is busy with European integration.
- Belous: Pay and Don’t Complain
- Berlinsky Exposes Price Scams
- Tărăburcă: Expect New Price Increases
Citizens and opposition MPs are criticizing PAS for unjustified tariff increases that hit the pockets of the most vulnerable twice over, but the ruling regime does not hear them: it is busy with European integration.
Diesel fuel has risen in price by 65.3% over the year. Gasoline — by 32.4%. Passenger transport — by 28%. Electricity — by 23.7%. Water and sewage — by 10.6%. Food service — by 9.2%.
Teachers’ salaries — 0%. Pensions — 6.8%. That is what we see today. But autumn cold lies ahead, and then winter.
Just a reminder: the spring record of the price rally at Moldovan gas stations was 34.98 lei per liter of diesel and 31.4 lei per liter of 95-octane gasoline. The record for gasoline was successfully broken a few days ago. For diesel, there is every reason to believe this will happen very soon.
And now — the figures that leave no doubt about who is paying for “European integration.”
Belous: Pay and Don’t Complain
At the parliamentary session on September 9, Finance Minister Victoria Belous presented a package of tax policy amendments for 2027. Excise duties are to rise by 10% for most excisable goods, and for diesel fuel — by 20%.
And then the minister produced a phrase that has already gone viral on social media:
“Moldovans who do not smoke, do not gamble, and do not drink are not affected by the excise increase.”
So if you drive to work, fill up with diesel, heat your home with gas — according to the minister’s logic, you are simply not virtuous enough. Excise duties on fuel are, it turns out, a tax on vice. And the fact that diesel is the backbone of transport, including public transport, of agriculture, of the economy as a whole — these are details that, judging by her statement, do not interest the minister.
Later, responding to MPs’ questions, Belous admitted: farmers will be compensated for the diesel excise increase in 2027 from the budget. But compensated — only agricultural producers. Everyone else — pay and don’t complain. And another nuance: these compensations will be paid from the taxes paid by all other taxpayers. That is, the very drivers who fill up with the more expensive diesel will finance the refund to farmers.
Berlinsky Exposes Price Scams
MP Alexandru Berlinsky delivered harsh criticism of PAS’s tax policy. He reminded that over five years of the party’s rule, Moldova’s national debt has grown from 70 to 140 billion lei.
“In 2021, when you came to power, the debt of the Republic of Moldova was about 70 billion lei. Now it is 140 in 5 years. That is, over 30 years the state of the Republic of Moldova accumulated 70 billion in debts, but in 5 years of your rule, PAS, you doubled it,” Berlinsky stated.
He also reminded how PAS bought gas and sold it to citizens at 29 lei per thousand cubic meters until Renato Usatîi spoke out — after which the price fell to 8.10 lei.
“Mr. Băluțel, shame on you, you bought the gas, you defeated Miller. And you sold it to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova at 29 lei per thousand cubic meters? Only after Mr. Renato Usatîi spoke at a press conference did you lower it to 8.10 lei.”
Berlinsky also reminded that last year the budget allocated 6 billion lei just for paying interest on debts. Not for loans — for interest.
“Go and ask a pensioner what they can do with a pension of 3,000 lei. You gave farmers 2 billion lei. Mr. Băluțel, before 2021 the AIPA budget was about 1.7 billion lei. Debts to farmers were 700–800 million. Now debts to farmers exceed 4 billion lei, and you allocated about 2 billion. Stop lying, get to work, and stop driving this country into debt.”
And in conclusion:
“You should not call this the Party of Action and Solidarity — it is the Party That Brings Poverty. PAS! You are the party that brings poverty, drives this country into debt, you have sold it!”
Tărăburcă: Expect New Price Increases
Economist Dmitri Tărăburcă warns: the 41% gas tariff increase will inevitably affect all utility bills. Gas accounts for 60–70% of the cost of heating and hot water, so pressure on tariffs will be in the range of 25–30%.
“Let’s start with heating and hot water, where gas accounts for about 60–70% of the cost, and the pressure on the tariff will be 25–30%. This is the heaviest item, and it hits utilities. People will start receiving gas bills, and it turns out to be a double blow to the same wallet,” Tărăburcă stated.
He also pointed out that the gas tariff increase will affect electricity as well.
“For now, the electricity tariff is not being touched, but deviations are accumulating. And it is only a matter of time — when they come into force and with what amount. The order of revision is about 15–20%. And here there is a direct link to expensive European gas. The high price of gas on the exchange leads to expensive gas generation in Romania, and, consequently, to expensive imports into Moldova.”
According to him, Moldova has a choice between dependence and an attempt to create its own development institutions — but the current authorities have chosen the former.
The authorities hear neither citizens, nor economists, nor the opposition. They continue to raise excise duties, explaining that “in the eurozone excises are higher.” Moldova is not yet in the eurozone — but taxes are already being prepared according to euro standards. Meanwhile, the standard of living and salaries remain Moldovan.
Victoria Belous was reminded: real wage growth in Moldova is less than 2.5%, inflation is 7%. And yet the authorities are also raising excise duties on diesel fuel, hiding behind the claim that Chișinău cannot influence global oil product supply processes.
The minister merely shrugged figuratively.
Meanwhile, ANRE has published new prices: A-95 gasoline — 32.33 lei per liter, diesel fuel — 33.23 lei. That is already today. What will happen in a month is not hard to predict, if one follows the logic of the finance minister.
Tariffs are rising. Debts are rising. Fuel prices are rising. Salaries are not. And the authorities, who promised European prosperity, continue to explain to citizens that all these measures are necessary. Well, and those who do not smoke, do not drink, and do not gamble — according to the finance minister — are not affected at all.
