Former Minister of Internal Affairs Andrei Năstase criticizes the announced 51‑lei pension increase, arguing that such an adjustment “does not show care for pensioners” and “does not repair a multi‑billion‑lei injustice,” TRIBUNA reports.

According to Năstase, the Government has promoted the measure in a triumphalist tone, announcing a fixed pension increase of 51.33 lei from 1 April and an indexation rate of 6.84%. Following these changes, the minimum old‑age pension will reach 3,264.66 lei, and for those with a full contribution period of over 40 years, 3,525.72 lei.

Năstase states that although the announcement may appear positive at first glance, the situation must be assessed honestly. In recent years, pensions have been indexed below the real inflation rate, he says, generating significant losses for pensioners. Estimates cited by Năstase indicate that these losses exceeded 10 billion lei as early as 2025. As a result, the minimum pension — which should have surpassed 4,040 lei if indexed correctly — remained at only 3,055 lei.

“In concrete terms, a pensioner receiving the minimum pension has effectively lost more than 30,000 lei in just three years. Those with higher pensions have suffered even greater losses,” he noted.

Beyond statistics, Năstase highlights the social reality faced by many elderly people who, after a lifetime of work, are forced to choose between food and medicine or between paying bills and heating their homes.

“Today, more than 675,000 pensioners in the Republic of Moldova live on pensions that do not cover even the minimum subsistence level,” he said. “A responsible state does not address these realities with triumphalist statements, but with fairness and correctness.”

Năstase calls for a mature response from the entire political class. He emphasizes that the Government is responsible for administrative decisions, Parliament for the legislative framework, and the parliamentary opposition has real tools at its disposal, including legislative initiatives.

“I do not currently have these institutional instruments. But I have the moral duty to speak the truth and defend the rights of those who no longer have the strength to do so themselves,” he added.

Năstase argues that Parliament and the Government must correctly calculate the losses incurred by pensioners and develop a clear plan to compensate them. He also insists that the law must guarantee that pensions are never indexed below the inflation rate again. The minimum pension, he says, must reflect economic realities and the subsistence minimum — which, in Moldova, cannot be lower than 5,000 lei per month.

“Moldova’s elderly are not asking for privileges. They are asking for what they deserve after a lifetime of work: respect, dignity, justice. Returning the lost sums is not an act of generosity — it is a moral and legal obligation of the state.

Give people back their money. Justice is not indexed — justice is done,” Năstase concluded.