Moldova opposition demands EU fund audit from Metsola
Opposition leaders in Moldova's parliament have welcomed the visit of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to Chișinău but are formally requesting the Brussels official to launch a verification into the usage of European Funds Moldova has received.
The leader of the "Democracy at Home" party, Vasile Costiuc, announced ahead of Metsola's plenary speech that his party would ask the EP President for an audit of the public spending. This demand stems from a lack of transparency in how the money is managed.
"We are used to the visits of high-ranking guests; we appreciate it, and we want to see results," Costiuc stated. "We have a direct message for Ms. Metsola, and we will deliver it in the plenary hall. Our core requirement is for her to check how the money allocated as European Union (EU) aid is being spent. We do not have clear statistics on how many billions came and where they went exactly."
Separately, the leader of the socialists' parliamentary faction, Igor Dodon, also extended a welcome to Roberta Metsola.
"We welcome the visit of the Parliament President; any external visit is beneficial for the Republic of Moldova's image," Dodon noted. "We will participate in the session, listen to her speech, and welcome her. I think this is a matter of common sense and correctness."
Roberta Metsola is in Chișinău on an official visit following the constitution of the new 12th-legislature Parliament. Her agenda includes an address to the Legislature's plenary, meetings with President Maia Sandu, Speaker Igor Grosu, and Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, as well as a public dialogue with young people at the "Spiru Haret" Theoretical High School.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
