'Waste' at Tofan Cabinet's first meeting: The real cost of ministers' government T-shirts
The T-shirts provided free of charge to ministers at the first meeting of the government led by Vasile Tofan do not cost "150 lei" as the Prime Minister estimated, but rather 310 lei each. This gesture was intended to promote the reform of local public administration. Officials from the Communication Department of the State Chancellery clarified this information at the request of Teleradio-Moldova Company.
Providing T-shirts to ministers and the Prime Minister during the inauguration of a new Executive is not a typical practice. However, in this instance, it served the specific purpose of "promoting the reform of local public administration."
A T-shirt was also given to each member of the Government to acknowledge the team's collective effort in communicating and promoting this reform. According to representatives from the Communication Department of the State Chancellery, these items were not purchased solely for the inauguration ceremony and should not be considered personal gifts.
The T-shirts and other promotional materials for the reform were supplied by the company "Media Show Grup." The modest purchase was funded from the Communication Department's budget at the State Chancellery.
In total, the State Chancellery bought 100 T-shirts, with the cost of the 17 T-shirts given to the members of the Tofan Cabinet amounting to over 5,000 lei.
"We should buy this T-shirt, not receive it as a gift"
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan did not appreciate the gesture of his colleagues from the State Chancellery.
The Head of Government stated, at the beginning of the Government meeting on July 22, that such expenses should be avoided, and that the members of the Government should have bought their own T-shirts.
"I think that we, the ministers, should buy this T-shirt. Not receive it as a gift. I understand that this T-shirt costs 150 lei or whatever it costs. And I'm glad that it's produced in Moldova. But 16 T-shirts are already two thousand lei. And someone else went, bought them, and worried. I want that person to focus on other things. (...) Changes and the fight against waste start with small things," the prime minister declared at the Government meeting on July 22.
Vasile Tofan added that changing the way public money is spent starts with seemingly insignificant gestures and urged ministers to show responsibility, including in everyday expenses.
"When you leave the room, turn off the light, even if no one sees you. If you see trash on the floor, pick it up, even if no one sees you. When you have a small party, make it austere - have some water, have some coffee, maybe some biscuits, even if you could afford more. Because big changes, changes worth hundreds of millions, start with changes worth hundreds of lei", concluded the Prime Minister.
The government led by Vasile Tofan, approved by Parliament on July 21, was officially sworn in on Wednesday, July 22, during a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace.
Among the initial objectives of Vasile Tofan's government are reducing excessive salaries, combating the waste of public funds, implementing controls on entrepreneurs, and enacting tax reform.
