Answer of Moldovan National Anticorruption Centre to approach by presidential institution confirms that term of ''prize'' does not fit notion of ''present''

Chisinau, 23 January /MOLDPRES/ - The National Anticorruption Centre (CNA) has made specifications about the prize, Timisoara for European Values, awarded to President Maia Sandu, which includes also a sum of 30,000 euros.   

CNA noted that the legal regime of the presents was not applicable in the case of the providing or awarding of prizes, taking into account that the term of ‘’prize’’ is not found in the list of terms which circumscribe to the notion of ‘’present’’, according to the Law on integrity.   

Also, CNA stressed that the prize, Timisoara for European Values, had been established under a decision by the local council; respectively, it was approved through normative act of a public authority and transparently published on the city hall’s page.    

„The manipulation of terms in order to disparage the presidential institution represents an instrument of propaganda meant to weaken the confidence in institutions and in the society. The prizes represent recognition of the merits and their awarding is a natural practice internationally. Prime ministers and presidents of countries benefited from such prizes as well,’’ the principal private secretary to the Moldovan president, Adrian Balutel, said. 

Also, the presidential institution emphasized that ‘’President Maia Sandu will decide on the way of using the money after it is transferred.’’  

On 13 January this year, President Maia Sandu paid an official visit to Timisoara, Romania. During the visit, the head of state was awarded the prize, Timisoara for European Values.