Local office holders from all over the country told Prime Minister Vlad Filat about the problems they face. The discussion was held on Saturday, within a festivity held to mark the Local Autonomy Day that is celebrated on February 1. The Premier admitted that he didn’t know about some of the difficulties, including the fact that the local elected officials can talk on the mobile phone for a limited period, can use a certain volume of fuel, while the male mayors cannot employ a driver for the mayor’s office, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vlad Filat said the mayors’ salary of 2,800 lei is too low compared with their obligations, but changes will be made to the Pay Law so as to increase them. Referring to the protest staged by local office holders on February 1, the Premier said that he also thought where he can go to protest when he faces problems. He told the mayors and district heads attending that the development funds are to reach 6 billion lei in two years and they should think how to equitably use these funds. The event was attended by the governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia Mihail Formuzal. He said that now the local office holders have access to more funds and can get financing for certain projects. But the salaries of the servants remain low. According to him, the central authorities should adopt a law to allow the local councils to award the mayors up to 10 salaries when they bring projects and investments to the settlement. Some of the mayors said that they are treated rudely by the central authorities. They asked to be respected, especially because some of them are in office for the second and third term and this shows that the population trusts them.