Moldova’s Ministry Leadership Posts Cost 800,000 Lei a Year

Each senior management post in a ministry costs the budget 800,000 lei a year

Each post of minister, state secretary or secretary-general of a ministry costs the budget approximately 800,000 lei per year. MP Liliana Iaconi, a former Secretary-General of the Government, is calling on the current cabinet to explain whether the planned reduction in administrative expenditure will also affect senior management posts, or whether the savings will be made predominantly at the expense of the staff who carry out the day-to-day running of public institutions.

Liliana Iaconi

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According to Liliana Iaconi, in 2021, the State Chancellery was headed by a Secretary-General and three Deputy Secretaries-General. Currently, the structure comprises a Secretary-General, four deputies and five Secretaries of State. The additional leadership posts within the State Chancellery cost the budget approximately 5 million lei annually.

Liliana Iaconi recalled that, at the beginning of September, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan asked the ministries to examine the possibility of reducing staff in central government bodies by 10 per cent, and in subordinate administrative authorities by at least 20 per cent. The MP is seeking clarification on which posts will be cut and the impact of these measures on the quality of public services.

“As a rule, cuts are made in the accounting and audit departments, as well as in logistics, procurement and technical staff, but management units and senior staff are left entirely untouched,” said the MP.

Liliana Iaconi submitted a parliamentary question to the Government comprising 11 questions, requesting information on the criteria for improving efficiency, the potential impact on services for citizens and the business community, as well as the existence of a functional analysis to underpin the decisions to reduce staff numbers.

The State Chancellery’s response did not satisfy the MP.

“Instead, yesterday I received a reply from the State Chancellery, personally signed by the Secretary-General of the Government, informing me that the efficiency-enhancement process is currently underway and that, once this process is complete, the State Chancellery will present its findings. They did not even deign to provide comprehensive information. I know very well, and I know from reliable sources, that all ministries and government agencies had submitted their responses by 20 September. And I really do want to see what the State Chancellery will present – or rather, what the Prime Minister will present to us – as the outcome of this exercise,” said Liliana Iaconi.

This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.

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