The mayor of Sângera town of the municipality of Chisinau Valeriu Popa says the legislation on the conflict of interest should be reviewed. In a news conference at IPN, the mayor stated that he challenged in court the ascertaining document issued by the National Integrity Authority ‘over the violation of the legal regime of conflicts of interest’ after he leased out free his personal car to the Sângera mayor’s offices for being used for official purposes.

Valeriu Popa said that using his car for official purposes, the local budget saved 100,000 lei annually. This money will go to replace the heat pipes at the local kindergarten, to design a water supply system, to build a sewerage network and to implement other projects.

The mayor presumes that those who notified the NIA of the use of his own car pursue particular goals. But he abided by the public interests when he signed that lease. The Sângera mayor’s office manages three localities - Sângera, Dobrogea and Revaca, whose total population is of over 14,000. The mayor’s office has 32 employees and the only car available cannot help solve all the problems.

Valeriu Popa noted he worked in conditions of maximum transparency and the local councilors were informed about the rental of his car.

On February 12, the National Integrity Authority announced that it issued an ascertaining document concerning the mayor of Sângera town over the violation of the legal regime of conflicts of interest. In January 2020, the mayor signed with himself, as a private individual, a contract for the rental of the own car for officials purposes even if the mayor’s office already had a car used for such purposes. The mayor of Sângera is considered not to blame until his guilt is stated by a final court decision.