Almost 10 million lei was spent by the Party of Action and Solidarity’s candidate for President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu for the first election round. The election campaign of the Party of Socialists’ candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo was cheaper and cost 4.6 million lei. The media publication CuSens analyzed the financial reports of the parties, submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC).

MPs, mayors, ministers among donors

Maia Sandu's election campaign budget in the first round exceeded 10 million lei. Of this amount, 3 million came from the PAS’ savings (dues and donations collected before the start of the campaign), another 750,000 lei - from budget allocations, and almost 6.3 million lei - from donations made by individuals and legal entities.

According to the report, about 40% of the donors are employees of public institutions or state-owned companies. Among them are 28 MPs, eight mayors and seven ministers, who contributed amounts of 500 to 20,000 lei, along with 87 pensioners who donated between 100 and 13,500 lei.

Among the most generous donors were the founder of Your Story Interactive, Vladislav Chetroșca, and the administrator of Pietriș company, Iurie Nastas, who donated by 82,200 lei each. Also, Victor Bostan, the manager general and founder of the group of companies that owns Purcari winery, contributed 82,000 lei.

Sandu also received donations from 34 private companies, including Basconslux, Terraconstrucţia and O'Key Imobil (428,000 lei), Asconi, Glia-Vito and CRM Lines Company (164,400 lei), Unitech Engineering Solutions, Intelligence Advice and Intellect Security (164,000 lei), Elite Synergy (150,000 lei) and Pro Invest (137,000 lei).

According to the report, Sandu spent almost the entire budget of the campaign - 9.9 million lei. Over 60% of the funds were allocated for electoral materials (newspapers, posters, calendars, banners) and advertising, including on Facebook.

Stoianoglo saved money for runoff too

The election campaign budget of Alexandr Stoianoglo was 6.6 million lei. Of this sum, 2.2 million lei came from contributions and donations collected before the start of the campaign, over 1.6 million lei - from allocations from the state budget, and 2.7 million lei - from donations made by individuals.

Stoianoglo had fewer donors than Sandu, about 150 people. Among them are businessman Ivan Bișir and his wife, Svetlana, who donated 120,000 lei. Bișir is the owner of a number of companies based in Chisinau and Taraclia. A substantial contribution was also made by employees of his companies – Corten-vin Compania SRL and Agroseminvest. Eight people donated 410,000 lei. Bișir's relative, businessman Yuri Yurovski, donated 60,000 lei. Of all the donors, 21 people are employees of state institutions, including three mayors and two district deputy heads.

In the first round of the presidential election, Stoianoglo spent 4.6 million lei from the campaign budget and over 76% of this amount was allocated for electoral materials and advertising.