Moldova Parliament travel: One million spent on global engagements
Moldova's Parliament spent over 1 million Moldovan leu ($55,000) on international travel for deputies and staff in the final quarter of 2023, with major expenses on attending parliamentary assemblies and visiting foreign capitals.
"The largest sum, nearly MDL130,000, covered three deputies' participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe," the legislature reported. Smaller trips ranged from a $4,400 study visit to Brussels to a $3,300 consultant participation in an economic cooperation event.
While Parliament typically shoulders per diem expenses, organisers often covered accommodation and transportation. "For example, a USA Capitol Ministries event hosted Deputy Ion Groza in Washington, D.C., with all costs covered," the statement clarified. Similarly, the U.S. Department of State's FIRST program funded Deputy Ina Coșeru's Bratislava visit.
Other notable trips included:
- A MDL 105,700 working visit by six lawmakers to Vienna.
- A MDL 92,000 delegation visit to Paris by the Moldova-France Friendship Group.
- A MDL 76,000 trip to Dublin for three deputies attending the European Conference of Speakers of Parliament.
- A MDL 56,000 journey to Prague for the second Parliamentary Summit - International Crimea Platform.
Beyond these, travel took lawmakers and staff to cities like Tbilisi, Bratislava, Copenhagen, and Bucharest in the closing months of 2023.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
