The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, may receive a 30,000 euro bonus recently offered by the Municipality of Timisoara, as the term “bonus” does not appear in the list of terms limiting the concept of “gift”, the National Anti-Corruption Center reported on Tuesday (CNA) from Chisinau after , as the presidency of the Republic of Moldova asked for clarification on this matter as a result of disputes on this topic.

According to the CNA, the legal regime of gifts does not apply in the case of giving/giving prizes, given that the term “prize” is not included in the list of terms limiting the concept of “gift” according to Art. 16 para. (1) from the Law on integrity no. 82/2017.

However, the institution in its response to the president notes that it does not have the authority to interpret normative acts, writes NewsMaker.md, adopted by News.ro.

CNA also noted the fact that the “Timisoara European Values ​​Award” was established by the Local Council Decision no. 138/2023, accordingly approved by the regulatory act of the state body and transparently published on the page of the Timisoara City Hall.

“Manipulation of terms in order to denigrate the institution of the president is a propaganda tool designed to weaken trust in institutions and society. Awards are recognition of merit and their presentation is a natural practice at the international level. The prime ministers and presidents of the countries have also benefited from such awards,” commented Adrian Belutel, head of President Maia Sandu’s office.

The president’s office said that President Maia Sandu will decide how to use the money after its transfer.

On January 13, Maia Sandu received the “Timisoara for European Values” award, which is accompanied by the sum of 30,000 euros.

The award worried Moscow, where the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, at a briefing on January 17, widely commented on this topic with accusations against Maia Sandu that she would contribute to the “colonization” of Moldova by Romania.

On the same day, Olesya Stamate, a deputy from the ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), president of the Committee on Law, Appointments and Immunities of the Chisinau Parliament, said in a TV show that the law does not allow the head of state to accept such a prize.

The next day, the spokeswoman of the president, Iryna Gotisan-Sotnich, reported that the president’s administration had turned to the National Anti-Corruption Center with a request to provide an explanation regarding the 30,000-euro bonus. She added that, from the institution’s point of view, such awards are not a gift.

The mayor of Timişoara, Dominik Fritz, also reacted on Sunday to the criticism that appeared in the public space regarding the award offered to Maja Sandu. In a post published on Facebook, Fritz said that the amount of 30,000 euros has not yet been transferred and that the attacks from Russia prove that it was the right decision for the President of the Republic of Moldova to become the first laureate of this newly created award. premium

• The €30,000 prize won by Maia Sandu in Timisoara is contested in Chisinau. The President appeals to the Anti-Corruption Center for clarification
• Moscow, inflamed by the award received by Maya Sandu in Romania. Maria Zakharova’s tirade with attacks in Romania