Moldova opposition calls Easter aid 'bribes'
The one-off aid offered by the Government for Easter has sparked a wave of criticism.
The opposition accuses the current government of providing "masked electoral handouts" ahead of the autumn parliamentary elections. Some experts also point out that, while the financial support is welcome, the way it is distributed – to all beneficiaries, without clear criteria – raises suspicions. On the other hand, the ruling party, Action and Solidarity (PAS), rejects the accusations and says it offers constant support to citizens, regardless of election periods.
Opposition accusations against PAS: "They are copying Plahotniuc"
The one-off payments announced by the authorities, which approximately 230,000 families in the Republic of Moldova and the diaspora are set to receive starting May 2, are criticized by the extra-parliamentary opposition as electoral measures. Leaders of several parties claim the initiative is reminiscent of practices previously promoted by the democrats – criticized, at that time, even by the current government.
"Perhaps some people don't realize it, but we are in the campaign for new local elections in several localities in Moldova in May, and this money, offered in the middle of the campaign, is nothing less than a bribe. For both the local elections and, especially, the upcoming parliamentary ones," says the leader of the Moldovan National Party, Dragoș Galbur.
Renato Usatîi, leader of Our Party, wrote on social media that "PAS is copying Plahotniuc, including with the 'electoral handouts', they're just painting them as 'good deeds'".
The European Social Democratic Party (PSDE) also criticized the financial support, granted from European funds, saying it would be used for political purposes: "We demand that the PAS government stop using public money and state institutions for political-electoral interests. In this case, we have every reason to believe that the electoral process is vitiated from the start, which calls into question the fairness of the autumn parliamentary elections."
Expert: The aid is welcome, but the mechanism "raises suspicions"
Invited to the "Zi de zi" (Day by Day) show on Radio Moldova, expert Diana Enache from the IDIS Viitorul Analytical Center welcomed the authorities' decision to offer financial support in the context of the Easter holidays. However, she drew attention to the fact that the way the money is distributed – on the eve of elections and without a clear selection of beneficiaries – raises suspicions and prompts questions.
She added that a more effective approach would have been to direct the funds towards truly vulnerable categories – such as families with young children or people with disabilities – whose incomes do not allow them to support themselves or make ends meet, based on clear criteria.
"Perhaps it is welcome, and certainly, every family that receives such aid or social benefit is bound to be happy. On the other hand, I don't believe these one-off aids contribute to improving the economic and financial conditions of those families, except in the very short term. Nor do they contribute to stimulating sustainable economic development and long-term economic growth. This is precisely why we need to think about an efficient mechanism that would truly target the most vulnerable and, at the same time, direct these resources towards activities, actions, and social services that would help these families and vulnerable people in the longer term."
PAS reaction: The Government helps every year, regardless of elections
Contacted for a reaction, the spokesperson for the Action and Solidarity Party, Adriana Vlas, rejected the accusations and criticisms. According to her, the Government has provided aid to citizens "every year," regardless of election years.
"Spending on pensions has increased by 13.9 billion lei compared to 3 years ago. The minimum pension has more than doubled, and the average pension has doubled. In 2022, we offered a one-off aid of 1,500 lei to all pensioners with pensions under 5,000 lei. In 2024, we offered a one-off aid of 3,000 lei to nearly 50 thousand pensioners. This winter, the most vulnerable pensioners received between 800 and 1,400 lei monthly throughout the cold season. For children under 2, we introduced a monthly allowance of one thousand lei and increased the one-off birth grant up to 21 thousand lei. These are aids that have been provided consistently over these years, regardless of electoral periods," Adriana Vlas told Teleradio Moldova.
Authorities announced on April 23 that over 230,000 families in the Republic of Moldova and the diaspora who are caring for young children or people with disabilities will receive one-off payments of up to 5,000 lei for Easter. The aid, totaling 470 million lei, is funded from the state budget and European funds and will be automatically granted starting May 2. Previously, both the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Alexei Buzu, and the Speaker of Parliament, Igor Grosu, who is also the PAS leader, rejected accusations linking the social payments to the upcoming autumn elections. According to them, the announced financial support reflects the government's constant commitment to citizens, not an electoral calculation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
