Poor Moldova will not survive without loans from Russia and the IMF - PM
Moldovan budget revenues have fallen by half. In April, the country depleted its reserves.
The country's Prime Minister, Ion Chicu, announced this on the NTV Moldova television channel, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“Since March 17, our state budget revenues have almost halved. We are now able to pay pensions and salaries solely because we have accumulated excess income in the first two and a half months. Our customs alone gave 27% more than last year. We, excuse the expression, are living on that fat now,” admitted Kiku.
The only hope for survival is loans from the IMF and Russia.
“The only money we received was the last tranche from the IMF. We successfully completed the $20 million program. A new loan of 4 billion lei ($200 million – ed.) should arrive before the end of April. We have an agreement with the Russian Federation, which I hope will be signed. There are also 4 billion lei there, so that we can compensate for the decrease in our own income,” the prime minister noted.
At the same time, the leader of the pro-Western Moldovan opposition, Maia Sandu, believes that Russia is giving loans at too high interest rates.
“As for this loan, I would be more careful. Based on what has been said, this is an expensive loan. And the interest will amount to tens of millions of euros. I don’t understand why they need to take money from the Russians at a high interest rate,” Sandu said on PublikaMD.
Impoverished Moldova won't survive without loans from Russia and the IMF – Prime Minister