The National Integrity Authority found that three mayors and a district councilor admitted conflict of interest and incompatibilities of office. Now, the mayors and the district councilor might have to leave the office.

In 2016, the mayor of Buda from Călărași district, the center of Moldova, violated the legal regime of conflicts of interest. The mayor admitted conflict of interest by allegedly employing her husband at the mayor’s office as a driver. During 2016-2019, the mayor issued several administrative/legal documents involving her husband. 

The mayor of Chiriet-Lunga village from Gagauzia Territorial-Administrative Unit, the South of Moldova, violated the legal regime of conflicts of interest. Starting with 2019, she allegedly issued a number of administrative/legal documents regarding her husband, who was employed as a driver at the mayor’s office.

The mayor of Drăgănești from Sângerei district violated the legal regime of conflicts of interest. He examined and signed land lease contracts with a company, in which he was listed as a founder and shareholder.

The former mayor of Zârnești from Cahul district violated the legal regime of conflicts of interest. In 2016, acting as a mayor, he concluded the employment order and the individual employment contract with his father, and in 2017 he signed another contract with him for the provision of services for the mayor’s office.

A councilor in the Sângerei District Council violated the legal regime of incompatibilities. During the period 2017-2020, the councilor concurrently exercised the mandate of councilor in the Sângerei District Council and the position of head of the Methodological Center of the Education Department within the Sângerei District Council.

The integrity inspectors decided that all four local elected officials, as well as the former mayor of Cahul district, the south of Moldova, admitted the violation of the legal regime of incompatibilities and conflicts of interest. The local officials did not declare or resolve their state of incompatibility and the conflict of interests in which they found themselves.

If the documents containing the findings remain final, four local elected officials risk termination of their term of office. For a period of three years, they will be deprived of the right to hold public office, including the former mayor of Cahul district. 

At the same time, they could be included in the Register of Prohibitions, managed by the National Integrity Authority.