High-ranking officials are the most corrupt – poll

A third of country’s population considers that the young civil servants are more corrupt than the older ones, according to an opinion poll on the perception and attitude toward the corruption phenomenon, conducted by IMASinc. About a half of the population considers that people observe the laws only when they find it suitable, and over three quarters of the population say that all or the majority of civil servants are involved in corruption-related activities, especially the high-ranking officials. This is the opinion of the persons living in towns and cities, with higher education. An increase in corruption indexes compared to 2005 was registered among doctors, MPs and ministers. Over the past three months, a third of the persons participating in the poll were forced to offer money to the civil servants, 30% - presents, and almost a quarter – different favours. Each second respondent said that the civil servants requested money, presents or favours when they were asked for help last year, while a third said that they were not asked to give anything. According to the poll, corruption is one of the main five problems of Moldova’s citizens, alongside poverty, high prices, unemployment and low income. At the same time, about 40% of the population would accept to take money if they worked as civil servants and had low wages. The poll was organised in April-May, on a sample of 3075 adults. The margin of error is 1.8%. The poll was conducted by the Marketing and Surveys Institute IMASinc, and commissioned by MOLICO, a EUR 3.5 mln joint project of the European Commission and European Council against corruption, laundering and financing of terrorism in Moldova. Cornel-Virgiliu Calinescu, anticorruption expert with MOLICO project told a news conference on Tuesday, July 24, that the study will be sent to all public authorities. In September a public debate will be organised on it.