Sandu on Fuel Prices: We Will Discuss It in the SSC, but It's Up to Parliament to Decide

President Maia Sandu argues that the recent increase in fuel prices is unacceptable and that this issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Supreme Security Council (SCC). The statements were made on the air of Cabinetul din umbră's program on Jurnal TV, zdg.md reports. "Such a chain price increase is unacceptable. The way prices are formed is completely opaque. To prevent this from happening, so that pricing is transparent and fair, we have at least two institutions: the Competition Council and ANRE. Both institutions are subordinate to parliament, not to the president. In this regard, I ask what parliament has done to discuss and take action. We have been talking about problems in the Competition Council and ANRE for two years now. For two years now, the opposition and international organizations have been demanding an external assessment by the Competition Council. Who opposed this? Parliament and parliamentary majority. Due to the fact that they tolerate such an attitude, when they do not interfere or there are agreements between those who represent the industry and those who work in the Competition Council and ANRE, or the employees do not do their job. These people receive the highest salaries in the public sector. There is no interest in parliament to take action on this issue. We know how people were appointed to ANRE. We will discuss this issue in the Supreme Security Council, but the decision remains in the parliament," said Maia Sandu. Sergei Tofilat, the presidential adviser in the field of energy, said that ANRE and the Competition Council have sufficient powers to check prices and authorize cartel agreements. Subsequently, ANRE responded stating that the current legislation limits the institution's ability to interfere with the pricing mechanism for oil products.