The Party of Socialists’ candidate for mayor of Chisinau Ion Ceban and the candidate for mayoralty of the Party “Platform Dignity and Truth” Andrei Nastase had a duel on TV8 channel in one of the last direct confrontations before the runoff vote. The candidates proposed solutions to the multiple problems faced by the municipality and also made accusations against each other over deeds of the past, IPN reports.
As regards the organogram of the Chisinau City Hall, Ion Ceban said he intends to ensure an audit of all the municipal subdivisions, enterprises and agencies so as to clarify the way in which they work and to ensure the people’s direct access to the services of the City Hall and make sure that the plans of these units are public. “In general, I think this audit will take about half a year,” stated the candidate.
Ion Ceban wants to institute management based on programs and projects at the City Hall. “There are a lot of services that can be attracted additionally. This is possible with internal funds and also with external funds,” he said, referring to the bonuses to salaries for the most important posts.
For his part, Andrei Nastase said a thorough examination at the units of the City Hall is indeed necessary. “We need to see what these people deal with at each of the divisions and if the activity is not doubled in parts,” he stated. The politician noted he will do his best for meritocracy, integrity and professionalism to be the main criteria on which the staff policy will be based. The salaries in the preschool education system should be raised by 50%, while the employees of pre-university education institutions should be offered by 1,000 lei in assistance at the start of the school year.
Andrei Nastase said the will apply management practices borrowed from Romanian cities, which increase salaries based on different projects. The municipality’s contribution to kindergartens should be raised to 20%. “We also proposed creating a fund of over 42 million lei that will help increase the teaching and managerial personnel at these institutions,” he stated.
The candidates made mutual accusations, including of cooperation with the governments responsible for the stealing of banking funds. Andrei Nastase was requested by Ion Ceban to explain why the publication “Ziarul Natiunii” that is managed by persons close to him illegally privatized a building that was municipal property. The Socialist candidate was asked to explain why he forms a coalition with the ruling Democratic Party led by Vladimir Plahotniuc, which Andrei Nastase considers responsible for a number of illegalities, including the banking fraud.
Each of the two candidates said their opponent does not deserve holding mayoralty in Chisinau, invoking the unconvincing approach to the problems of the capital city and making of populist statements during the election camping.
