Mayor of Chisinau: 2012 was a good and hard year alike

{Info-Prim Neo interview with Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca of the series “Year 2012 in Moldova’s and Moldovans’ life”, article Nor. 6 of 12} [– How was 2012 for the residents of Chisinau and for Chisinau inhabitant Dorin Chirtoaca? What did you expect from the authorities as a citizen?] – First of all, it was the first year without elections in the last 3-4 years. We constantly had elections over the last three years – in 2009 we had elections two times, in 2010 two times, or more precisely a referendum and elections, while in 2011 two rounds of elections. Evidently, this fact did not have a positive impact on the town as we know what elections mean. They mean the diminution of the work pace. If we speak about the fives years after 2007, 2008 was the only year when we didn’t have elections In the other years - 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011- we had elections. 2012 is the first year besides 2008 when elections weren’t held. From this viewpoint, it was a more advantageous situation for the town, given the foundations laid the previous years. This year we reaped the harvest. We managed to achieve many results. A proof is the projects we implemented in the municipality, including: the restoration of the lake in “Valea Morilor” Park, the assembly of new trolleybuses in Chisinau, the 11 repaired streets, the initiation of new projects, like that on Alecu Russo Blvd,. the EBRD program for the next streets, the renovation of the pluvial water drainage system near the Railway Terminal, the allocation of more money to the suburban settlements (2.5 million lei per suburb), the replacement of the chlorine used to treat the water with sodium hypochlorite, which is something historical. A number of things have been done this year without being planned. We rehabilitated Muncesti St that hadn’t been repaired since the war period. Vadul lui Voda St was also repaired and extended. The bridge on Mihai Viteazul St was repaired. We did many things even if 2012 was a hard year. It’s impossible to do everything when there is a period of transition of 20 years. As to the transport, we bought 100 trolleybuses and assembled 10. Next year we will assemble 50. But this is not enough. All the trolleybuses should be new. There are many old units of transport that do not meet the security norms and the minibuses cause discomfort in the town. I think the transport problem will be solved in 3-5 years. We must replace all the old buses and trolleybuses, approve the strategy for developing transport and the make the minibus routes peripheral so that we can speak about transport up to the European standards. As regards the roads, we repaired over 10 streets and maintained other streets, but we need to repair 10% of the total streets every year so that we are able to deal with the road problem once in 10 years and to build new sections. All the problems cannot be solved, but we can set real terms for achieving a better development level. For the roads, we need to increase the budget threefold so that we know that in 5-7 years we have a town with fully European roads. Evidently, there are many shortcomings, but compared with the previous situation we took a big step forward. [– What about the 2012 municipal budget? Do the spending and the revenues differ much? In what area is the situation the most difficult? Can you pronounce on the 2013 budget?] – If things go on like this, the situation will be better than expected. Based on the initial calculations, the budget for 2013 will be of about 2.6 billion lei. If the local taxes are optimized as we suggested, we will manage to collect another 150 to 200 million lei into the budget, which will thus rise to 2.8 billion lei. This will lead to larger investments in the roads and other areas. We will be able to allocate more to the suburbs and for other purposes. The priorities are as follows: for the assembly of 50 trolleybuses, for roads, for the lighting from the City’s Gates up to the Airport. We will consider methods of acquiring new buses; will increase the allocations to suburbs from 2.5 million lei to 3 million lei, plus 1 million lei for roads. We also want to finance the repair and restoration of architectural monument-buildings, including Gheorghe Asachi High School, and the Organ Hall. We may start works on the belt highway, finish Mircea cel Batran Blvd. and Studentilor St. These are some of the priorities for 2013. As to the 2012 budget, practically all the areas haven’t had sufficient financing over the last 20 years. The financing was of 10%, 20%, 30%, and maximum 50% of the necessities and every time we did less than we wanted or we had to. At least 3-5 years with a constant rise in the budget are needed to provide sufficient financing in each area. We speak about the repair or reconstruction of schools, kindergartens, and hospitals, the equipment or thermal insulation of buildings, the laying out of the yards of apartment buildings, the extension of the water and sewerage networks, which is one of the top priorities, especially for the suburban settlements. Since 2008, we have witnessed a constant growth, even if they cut then the budget by 30%. The results are visible, especially in the last few years, as the growth rate is slightly higher than the previous years. [– The atmosphere in the Chisinau Municipal Council hasn’t been peaceful again, at a time when the most important decisions in the municipality are taken by the CMC. How can this problem be solved?] – Any legislative body, either the parliament or the council, needs a majority in order to work. A majority was formed in the CMC at a certain moment and the Council worked for a period. Then the situation worsened, but can improve now again. There are a series of preconditions for this. Everything derives form the election outcome. In 2011 we pledged to follow such a difficult path as there is no other applicable rule. Despite the difficult situation in the CMC, the projects implemented this year and the results achieved this year are much better and greater in number than earlier. If the local taxes had been approved, this would have been another step forward. Surely, it is better for society when there is harmony and understanding, but we at least moved on and did not remain stuck after the elections of 2011. I hope the state of affairs in 2013 will be better given that a majority may be created of 26 councilors. We will see what steps will take the councilors that left the Communist faction. At least the Communists now do not have 26 votes and this is an advantage for the Alliance for European Integration. [– What can you say about the auctions held, their correctness, efficiency and transparency?] – If we speak exclusively about the auctions, there were amended a series of procedures. For example, the changes prevent situations when the paint is bought at different prices and the linoleum is purchased for 60 lei to 240 lei per meter, as it happened at the Division of Education, Youth and Sport. There were held a series of auctions in a centralized way and not everybody liked this. Some disputed this decision and went to court, but it was better than the previous years. We didn’t see so many frauds related to auctions as earlier. The laws are continuously toughened up so as to prevent the people from gaining advantages for themselves. On the other hand, a lot depends on the internal procedures. This year we received fewer signals. We may hold electronic auctions in the future so that everyone will be able to register online and to take part. As regards the honest and corrupt functionaries, I think that besides people with a different mentality in the administration, we also need pays in line with everyone’s responsibility. Until the salaries are of 1,000-3,000 lei at a time when the persons manage millions or even billions of lei, there will be persons who can be corrupted. The change can happen through generations and by establishing administrations with traditions. Our independent state is 20 years and the personal interests in our country prevail over everything. The criminal cases that appeared recently over attempts to appropriate property of the City Hall are a proof of this. During my first years in office, there were by 4-5 cases over swindles of several million lei and areas of 100-200 square meters. Now the cases concern hectares and hundreds of millions of lei. This shows that things go wrong. Those who are corrupt must be caught and removed. [– The dismissals at the City Hall continued, including for abuse of power and corruption. How much time is needed to bring things in order in this respect?] – A number of functionaries have been discharged and others will continue to be dismissed. The structure of the City Hall’s subdivisions will be modified. I think we will manage to reduce a series of posts and get rid of functionaries suspected of illegalities. It is evident that corruption embraced the local administration, the central administration, and the courts. The corrupt functionaries in evident cases are only removed from the system, not yet imprisoned. The servant who was caught with €10,000 bribe that he took to influence a trial continues to move freely through Chisinau. I even heard that he went to court and asked damages from the City Hall. This is strange. It is an example for the other corrupt persons, who see that there is no appropriate punishment for corruption. The fight will continue for a long period, even after us. But we must at least reach a more acceptable level. [– This year saw many protests staged in front of the City Hall, including by minibus drivers. It seems that the situation as regards the fares and the quality of the passenger transportation services remained unchanged. Does this state of affairs predict new perturbations in the public transport or considerable improvements?] – There is a risk, but we made it clear that if they continue like this, they will sign their sentence themselves. It was seen that the people do not support minibus drivers’ demand. We thus understood that we must bringer large units of transport – trolleybuses and buses – so as to establish a civilized transport system. The minibuses were a temporary solution, but it was used for 20 years. But the minibus routes will be made peripheral. The minibuses should run on the outskirts, where there are no trolleybus and bus routes. We may also build a tramway line or a surface metro line from the Airport to Vatra so that we also have what the European capitals and towns have had for a long time. [– A year ago, you said that the relations with the central public authorities are not the desired ones. Did something change meanwhile? Did you get more support from the central administration after the political situation stabilized, as politicians say?] – There has always been competition between the local and central authorities, especially between the administration of a capital city and the central administration. As far as I know, the situation in most of the European states is much the same. The previous government deprived us of a series of powers in 2003-2007 and they should be returned to us so that the City Hall can deal with the unauthorized constructions and fine those who break the legislation on ecology or on something else. Nothing has been done in this respect yet, but we will insist that the powers are transferred back to us by the end of the current legislature’s term, in 2014. There are technical cooperation relations between our subdivisions and the Government’s subdivisions. There are projects where the viewpoints coincide. Consensus is reached when the opinions are divergent. We will see yet how the decentralization strategy is implemented. This strategy seems a good document from theoretical viewpoint and it benefits the mayor’s offices, specifically the local authorities. But there are situations with which we do not agree. For example, we do not agree that the police should remain strictly under the control of the Ministry of the Interior. I mean the police that maintain public order and the traffic police, which should be managed by the City Hall, as in many European countries. We also do not agree with the procedures to modify the method of financing the education institutions. There are many things to be discussed and negotiated. In 2012, everyone concentrated on what they have to do in their areas and I think it will be the same in 2013. We want changes to be made to the legislation so that the powers of the local authorities everywhere, not only in Chisinau, are strengthened. [– What should the residents of Chisinau expect next year in such key areas as water supply, roads, transport, trade, etc.?] – First of all, we want to continue the initiated projects and to launch new projects that will bring benefits so that we all feel that the town advances. The water and sewerage networks in the town and its suburbs must be extended because there are minimum conditions required in the 21st century. As regards the transport, we will assemble 50 trolleybuses so that each second trolleybus is new. We will continue to repair the streets and to support the suburbs so that they develop better than in 2012. The yards of apartment buildings will be further laid out so as to create comfortable living conditions. The EBRD program for the repair of six streets that is now being prepared will start to be implemented. We will make effort to ease traffic and reduce crowdedness in the central part of Chisinau. Some of the facilities may be relocated. It’s hard, but we must at least start. The road section between the City’s Gates and the Airport will be lit. The urban crowdedness and traffic congestion are the most acute problems everywhere in the world. The towns concentrate half of the globe’s population, but occupy an area of only 2%. [Elena Nistor, Info-Prim Neo]