29 April 2010
Campaign „Call to account for public money!” carried on

The Association of Independent Press (API) gladly announces the commencement of the second stage of press campaign „Call to account for public money!”, following to monitor the public procurement unfolded in eight towns from Republic of Moldova. The campaign was initiated and is supported financially by Soros-Moldova Foundation.

Throughout the year 2009, API in partnership with independent newspapers and non-governmental organizations from four towns - Ungheni, Soroca, Rezina and Cimişlia, organized the first stage of this campaign, targeting at mass media’s and citizens’ involvement in ensuring the transparency of local-level budget operations.

Grounding on the local budgets monitoring experience, „The guide on local budget and citizens’ involvement in performing social control over the use of public money” was published.

In 2010, the press campaign „Call to account for public money!” shall be carried on tackling public procurement, the monitoring area covering Chisinau and Baltsi municipalities, and Cahul and Orhei towns, apart from the four above-mentioned towns. Thus, independent newspapers from the eight places – Unghiul (Ungheni), Observatorul de Nord (Soroca), Cuvântul (Rezina and Orhei), Business info (Cimişlia), Ziarul de gardă (Chisinau), SP (Baltsi) and Cahul Expres (Cahul) shall monitor the transparency of public procurement, the correctness of short-listing economic agents, as well as the quality of goods and works performed etc. Each newspaper shall lead the permanent column „Call to account for public money!”, informing tax-payers on monitoring results. Mass-media conclusions on the correctness of public procurement shall be submitted to local and central public authorities in the view of taking steps for making the public money use more efficient.

According to statistical data, public procurement stands for 10% of Gross Domestic Product of R. Moldova, whereas the incorrect application of provisions of the new Law on public procurement forges good conditions for maintaining corruption in public institutions.