Moldova raises 2026 budget to fund public sector one-off aid
Moldova's parliament passed the 2026 state budget revision in the second reading on Thursday, approving one-off financial bonuses of up to 4,000 MDL (€204) for public employees earning under 20,000 MDL monthly.
The government allocated 560 million MDL (€28.6 million) to fund the support package. Educators will receive the maximum bonus of 4,000 MDL, while staff in national defence, public security, healthcare, culture, sports, local administration, and justice will each obtain 3,000 MDL (€153). Maintenance, security, and auxiliary staff across state institutions will receive a single payment of 2,000 MDL (€102).
Expanded public spending and infrastructure
The revised 2026 fiscal plan increases overall public spending by 2.77 billion MDL (€141.3 million), elevating total expenditure to 103.34 billion MDL (€5.27 billion). Transfers to the state social insurance fund will expand by 1.67 billion MDL (€85.2 million), with 550 million MDL (€28.1 million) earmarked for cash energy compensations ahead of winter.
In addition, lawmakers supplemented the National Regional and Local Development Fund by 1 billion MDL (€51 million) to finalize national infrastructure projects, while the Road Fund received an extra 300 million MDL (€15.3 million).
Lawmakers examined 22 parliamentary amendments proposing approximately three billion MDL in spending and the reallocation of around 528 million MDL, said Marcel Spatari, Chairman of the Economy, Budget, and Finance Committee. Among the approved adjustments, 600,000 MDL was allocated to renovate an autism support centre run by the Copiii Ploii association in Chișinău, while five million MDL was directed to complete a municipal social innovation hub for youth organizations.
Opposition motions rejected
Parliament rejected several amendments sponsored by the parliamentary opposition. These included a bid by the Party of Socialists to allocate €52 million for purchasing a controlling interest in the operating firm of the Giurgiulești International Free Port, Moldova's strategic river-sea hub on the Danube.
“We recall that the Giurgiulești port was acquired by a Romanian state company, the Constanța Maritime Ports Administration, which according to media sources in neighbouring Romania, the Bolojan Government intends to privatize together with Giurgiulești Port,” said socialist lawmaker Petru Burduja.
Lawmakers also voted down a proposal by "Democrația Acasă" deputy Valentina Meșină, who demanded raising the minimum auxiliary payment from 2,000 to 3,000 MDL.
“If this payment is of a social nature and not part of the salary, I believe it is unjustified for skilled and unskilled workers to receive the smallest support,” Meșină said.
The legislative amendments expand the national fiscal deficit to over 23 billion MDL (€1.17 billion), a threshold officials confirmed remains manageable. The law enters into force upon publication in the Official Gazette, with eligible public sector workers scheduled to receive payments in October.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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