The head of the group of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) on the Chisinau Municipal Council Vasile Grădinaru said the people are appointed to key posts at the Chisinau City Hall according to loyalty criteria, not to competence criteria. In a news conference, Vasile Grădinaru, alongside other mates, presented a number of examples, saying the illegalities are tolerated and Mayor Ion Ceban does not want an authentic reform in the municipality. He just wants to name loyal people to posts, IPN reports.

Vasile Grădinaru said that Lilia Buștiuc, deputy head at the Central Market, bought with public funds a telephone worth over 27,000 lei in only three days of her appointment.

According to the PAS councilors, Andrei Pavaloi, who was named deputy head of the General Division of Education, Youth and Sport after Rodica Guțu left, has integrity-related problems. In 2016, he was prosecuted for appropriation in considerable amounts, but was acquitted.

The councilors also said that they repeatedly asked for the documents concerning the appointment of Mihail Bagas as vice director of the cleanup company “Autosalubritate”, but didn’t obtain these.

In reaction, Mayor Ion Ceban said that incompetent persons were earlier named to posts. Besides not fulfilling their duties, these were corrupt and enriched themselves at the expense of the townspeople. “No one can accuse me of promoting particular persons when I have professional and apolitical people in my team,” he stated.

Ion Ceban added that Andrei Pavaloi was named vice director of the General Division of Education, Youth and Sport by being promoted from the post of Râșcani district division head and the procedure was fully legal. As regards the appointment of deputy heads at the Central Market and “Autosalubritate”, the mayor said this is the prerogative of the managers of the given municipal entities.