Fewer decisions to distribute the executive’s reserve fund were taken last year compared with 2012, but the situation as regards the management of the fund hasn’t improved. Author of the study “Management of the Government’s reserve fund in 2013” Viorel Chivriga said that though only 37 decisions were adopted last year, 89% of them were predictable and the sums could be planned in the draft state budget, IPN reports.
The study was presented by the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT). The association’s executive director Igor Botan said that though the Government’s reserve fund represents only 0.25% of the state budget, the way this money is spent should be followed attentively.
Under the law, this fund cannot be used to remove the effects of natural disasters, to compensate illegally convicted persons for the damage caused to them, to provide financial assistance in exceptional cases. Viorel Chivriga said the authorities added ‘other unpredictable costs’ to this list, which they invoke when they distribute money from this fund.
The expert gave as example the money allocated for trips made by officials. Though the sums in 2013 were lower, such costs should not be covered from the Government’s reserve fund as the institutions budget money for trips separately.
The study “Management of the Government’s reserve fund in 2013” was made as part of the project “Increasing transparency and public control in the management of the Government’s reserve fund” that is implemented by ADEPT, with financial support from Soros Foundation Moldova.
