The organization of events dedicated to the 35 years of independence puts pressure on the budget of the Ministry of Culture. The institution has requested the redistribution of 10 million lei from subsidies for theaters and concert institutions, but the Ministry of Finance asks for the identification of other resources so as not to affect their activity, reports IPN.

The Ministry of Finance has drawn attention, in the process of approving the national program “The Independence that unites us. Moldova-35”, that the actions dedicated to the anniversary must be carried out without affecting the financial commitments already assumed in the field of culture. The institution mentioned that the events are to be financed from the approved budgets of the responsible authorities, without additional allocations from the state budget.

According to the explanatory note of the Government’s decision project, in the budget of the Ministry of Culture for the year 2026, 29.5 million lei were approved for the conduct of cultural activities, of which 10 million lei were additionally allocated for actions dedicated to the celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the proclamation of independence.

Subsequently, the allocations for cultural activities were reduced to 29 million lei. As of June 8, 2026, the budget for these activities was executed at 84.8%, and the remaining amount had reached approximately 4.4 million lei.

In this context, the Ministry of Culture has requested the authorization for the redistribution of 10 million lei from the account of subsidies allocated for supporting the activities of theater-concert institutions, to cover the expenses related to cultural events that were not initially planned.

The Ministry of Finance did not support this solution, noting that when drafting the budget for the year 2026, subsidies for theater-concert institutions were increased by 56 million lei, including for covering personnel expenses generated by the change in the regulatory framework. The institution warned that the redistribution of the 10 million lei could affect the activity of the institutions and recommended the Ministry of Culture to identify other resources available within its own budget, by redistributing savings from other measures or expenditure items.

According to the data presented in the project, as of June 8, the Ministry of Culture had available allocations worth 477.9 million lei for the cultural sector, after executing about 41.4% of the total budget allocated to the sector. The Ministry of Finance indicated that among the sources that could be analyzed for redistribution are the Culture Fund, where approximately 26.3 million lei were available, but also the National Program “Access to Culture”, with about 10 million lei unused at that moment.

The total cost of the entire national program “Independence that unites us. Moldova-35” is not indicated in the draft government decision. The document only establishes that each responsible institution will ensure the financing of actions from the account and within the limits of the approved budgets, without requesting additional financial means for the amendment of the State Budget Law for the year 2026.

The program “Independence that unites us. Moldova-35” includes 28 actions, among which are festive events in the Great National Assembly Square, military parade, exhibitions, concerts, documentaries, educational activities, the “Maria Biesu” International Opera and Ballet Festival, the European Heritage Days, and the National Carpet Fair “Covorul Dorului”.