The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) says the Government’s decision to postpone the salary increase promised to teachers starting September 1 is yet another blow to the education system and proof of the current authorities’ inability to fulfill their commitments, TRIBUNA reports.

According to the party, after months of promises that the new salary system would ensure higher wages as early as this autumn, the Government is now acknowledging that it lacks the necessary financial resources and is postponing the introduction of the new salary grid until January 1, 2027.

PLDM considers the resignation of the Minister of Education necessary following the public expression of distrust by teachers during the protest. According to the party, the minister’s remarks, which clearly diverged from teachers’ specific demands and the reality they face every day, are cause for concern. PLDM argues that the attempt to respond to teachers’ dissatisfaction with statistics, percentages, and a list of alleged achievements only confirms the current authorities’ tendency to replace real results with figures and promises.

“The booing of the minister by teachers is a political and social signal that cannot be ignored: an increasingly significant and active part of society is no longer willing to accept triumphant rhetoric instead of solutions and is demanding tangible results, fulfillment of commitments, and accountability from those in power,” the party said.

According to PLDM, the current situation is one of the clearest signs of the economic failure of the PAS government. After several years of full control over the Government, Parliament, tax policy, and the state’s budget priorities, the current authorities are forced to acknowledge that they lack the funds to fulfill commitments they themselves made.

PLDM is calling on the PAS authorities to stop presenting the situation as an ordinary technical delay and acknowledge the obvious: the current economic model is no longer generating sufficient resources to finance the state. The situation is even more difficult to justify given how significantly the Government’s budgetary approach changes from one year to another.

“In 2025, when parliamentary elections were held, the Government found 300 million lei to provide a one-time payment of 1,000 lei to approximately 300,000 students in grades I–IX to help them prepare for the new school year. At the time, the Government spoke about supporting families, reducing the financial burden, and the state’s responsibility toward children.

In 2026, when no parliamentary elections are being held, no similar nationwide programme has been announced, while teachers are being told that the state has no funds for the promised salary increase. At the same time, the lack of resources cited by the Government does not prevent the state from financing celebrations, official ceremonies, and a military parade in 2026.

PLDM believes that this difference raises a legitimate political question: why can the Government find hundreds of millions of lei during election years, but after elections there is no longer enough money for education and for fulfilling promises made to teachers? This question requires an answer.

PLDM believes that the problem has long gone beyond teachers’ salaries alone.

The new fiscal policy, which envisages increasing budget revenues through higher excise duties and VAT by imposing an additional fiscal burden on consumption, points to systemic problems in the functioning of the economy. The Government must acknowledge the economic collapse it has brought upon the Republic of Moldova.

In the current situation, the only correct solution is an early election, so that citizens can determine through their vote whether the current authorities have the necessary mandate to continue governing the country,” the party said in its statement.