Chisinau mayor accused of political redundancies

Valeri Klimenko, city councilman for Ravnopravie Movement, accuses Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca of employing political interests of the his party when sacking municipal functionaries as well as of covering instances of internal corruption. Speaking at today’s meeting of the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC), Klimenko stated that the mayor discharged Eugenia Ceban from the post of head of the social assistance department just because she didn’t let the functionaries in her subordination steal. According to Klimenko, Ceban tried many a time to fire the head of the social assistance division in Buiucani district, Ludmila Proca, because she kept for three years in her subordination an employee that was actually studying in France. Klimenko maintains that the mentioned civil servant enjoys the protection of one of her relatives, a Liberal councillor. Liberal councillor Ana Vasilachi denied the allegations and the blood relation with Ludmila Proca, admitting at the same time that she had worked at the respective division in Buiucani. As the court ruled in favour of Ceban and ordered the mayor to reinstate her to the post, Valeri Klimenko suggested that all the damages and wage loss be paid to Eugenia Ceban from the mayor’s pocket and not from the city coffers. The Chairman of the City Council, Liberal Mihai Ghimpu, gave assurances that the municipality would comply with the judgment and reinstate Eugenia Ceban, but hinted that the City Hall would appeal the decision in a higher court. Valerii Klimenko went on to accuse the mayor of putting pressure on Victor Martaniuc, sacked by the former interim mayor, Vasile Ursu, and reinstated by court as the manager of the Chisinau Electric Transport Company, in order to see Martaniuc leave his post. Martaniuc confirmed to Info-Prim Neo that Mayor Chirtoaca requested him by phone to quit within five days or ask for another job, without giving any explanation whatsoever. Victor Martaniuc labelled the mayor’s request as illegal, but could not tell what he was going to do about it. AMN Councilman Oleg Cernei proposed to review the organisational chart of the City Hall and its subunits at one of the next meetings. Personnel changes must be carried out in a legal way, so as to avoid lawsuits in the future, Oleg Cernei said. Before leaving for Brussels to visit NATO headquarters, Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca conveyed via the head of his office the promise to offer Info-Prim Neo an interview, which would address, among others, the personnel issue, raised today at the City Council.