The leader of the People’s Party of the Republic of Moldova (PPRM) Alexandru Oleinic considers that all the taxes that are collected by mayor’s offices must remain in the settlements and this should be an objective of decentralization, IPN reports.

“The mayor and the local council must be motivated to develop the settlement so that there appear new companies and new services. This way we will achieve decentralization. But when we leave insignificant taxes to the mayor’s office for development and collect the rest, and then distribute the money depending on the political color, this is not decentralization,” the politician said in an interview for Radio Free Europe.

As to the main directions of activity of the new Minister of Finance, Alexandru Oleinic said that Anatol Arapu should promote this financial autonomy conception in the Government. “Afterward, he should present it in Parliament. The legislative body may support him and may allow him to assume responsibility for implementing this law,” said the leader of the PPRM.

He also said that the new minister of finance should contribute to improving the investment climate by proposing a series of amendments to the fiscal and social legislation, including setting the social benefits based on the minimum subsistence level. “The minimum subsistence level must become fundamental for any calculation done in Moldova. But, in order to be able to spend, we must create conditions to have budget allocations,” said Alexandru Oleinic.

According to him, the underground economy that represents 50% should be legalized. The practice of paying salaries ‘in envelopes’ must be excluded. Smuggling must also be combated. “This significantly affects the budget and the development of companies,” stated the politician.

The former MP said that the Ministry of Finance must present the fiscal policy for the next year to the Government by September 1 and this will be a test not only for Minister Anatol Arapu, but also for the whole Pro-European Coalition.