In the context of the multiple pre-election statements made by the Deputy of Parliament Mr. Alexandru Slusari, the last one being made on June 3, 2021, the PSA makes the following statement and appeals to the society,
Dear citizens,
We note with regret that in the last month Mr. Alexandru Slusari initiated a campaign to denigrate the Public Services Agency, publicly promoting the information that does not correspond to reality. This information is erroneous and has no factual basis. It also aims at misleading the society and using the PSA or the PSA activity as narratives in the election campaign.
The Public Services Agency is a public institution based on the principles of legality and transparency, which exercises legal attributions and competences for the benefit of the citizens and the state of the Republic of Moldova.
As you have noticed, from the very beginning of the political campaign Mr. Alexandru Slusari constantly attacks the Public Services Agency and claims that the PSA does not provide him with the requested information or exceeds its attributions in the implementation of state policies in the fields of its competence.
In this regard, expressing special respect for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, we repeatedly state the following information:
1. The PSA provided Mr. Alexandru Slusari with all the information that he requested as a Deputy in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. With regard to the information falling under the confidentiality clauses concerning the third parties, the PSA cannot assume responsibility for providing access to or publishing it, because the sanctions for such actions are very drastic and detrimental to the institution. Contracts concluded with banking institutions represent a confidential information and may be provided to third parties only with the consent of commercial banks.
2. Regarding the attraction of additional financial means by the PSA from banking sources, we repeatedly communicate that the credit line concluding procedure was carried out in strict accordance with the legal provisions. The acceptance of loan was examined and approved by the PSA Council and the Founder of the PSA – the State Chancellery. State guarantees in this regard were not offered, the Public Services Agency having the status of financial autonomy.
It should be mentioned that the Agency’s Council is the highest collegial body of the PSA, which directs and supervises its functioning and adopts decisions; the members are: the Secretary General of the Government, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Justice, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, the Executive Director of The Electronic Government Center and representatives of other institutions, as well as a representative of civil society. The employees of the Agency may not be members of the PSA Council.
The loans were made in order to ensure the function of the PSA as a one-stop shop for public services provision and to create a network of universal multifunctional centers to render public services being located in all districts of the Republic of Moldova – the goal established by the Strategy of Public Administration Reform for 2016-2020 (approved by Government Decision no. 911/2016; Government Decision no. 1351/2016 on approval of the Action Plan for 2016-2018 for the implementation of the Strategy of Public Administration Reform for 2016-2020; Government Decision no. 966/2016 on approval of the Action Plan regarding the modernization reform of public services for 2017 - 2021; Government Decision no. 314/2017).
3. As to the erroneous information, promoted by Mr. Alexandru Slusari concerning the unfounded increase of tariffs, the PSA reiterates that the Methodology for calculating tariffs for provided services, the Nomenclature of provided services and their tariffs, as well as the categories of services provided by the PSA at reduces tariffs and/or free of charge were approved by Government Decision no. 966 on December 22, 2020. The draft decision was developed by the State Chancellery jointly with the PSA, based on the Government Decision of 2019.
Thus, we reiterate that the tariffs for some services have increased, but an important factor of the updated Nomenclature is the maintenance of tariffs for basic services of the PSA, despite the fact that these tariffs do not reflect the real expenses of the Agency and are below cost. In general, an increase in tariffs is observed for the services provided on an expedited basis, the delivery period being reduced. The tariffs for the services provided within a standard delivery period remain unchanged, thus giving the applicant the possibility to choose the service.
We repeatedly draw your attention to the fact that the main social services provided to individuals will remain free of charge. Thus, for example, the registration of birth, death, the issuance of the first identity card of the citizen of the Republic of Moldova, the determination of the person's belonging to the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, etc. shall be carried out free of charge. At the same time, the provision of certain free services for people with disabilities, children left without parental care, war veterans, victims of trafficking, people under public charge, voluntary blood donors, etc. (services in the field of civil status, issuance of identity documents and population records, qualification of drivers and vehicle registration, provision of information from the state information resources, etc.) are included in the Nomenclature.
4. Regarding the accusations of the non-compliant tender for the purchase of blank forms with personalization technologies for identity documents of the national passport system , driving licences and registration certificates, we reiterate that the relevant procedure was initiated by the PSA in strict accordance with the legislation in force and in order to continuously ensure the process of issuing documents of state importance for the period 2022-2023.
The organization of public procurement procedures was carried out, is carried out and will be carried out in advance in order to avoid the risk of depletion of the available stock of blankets and consumables and it is dictated by the procedural and technological specifics of the procurement process. The eventual depletion of stocks will inevitably lead to the impossibility of the PSA, respectively of the state, to perform the basic functions of the institution, that is the provision of public services of manufacturing and issuance of identity documents, driving licences and registration of motor vehicles.
5. Regarding to a comprehensive audit that Mr. Alexandru Slusari insists to be made in the PSA in order to verify its activity during 2017-2021, we inform that the PSA, being a public institution, has been, is and will be constantly monitored in the manner established by the legislation in force, also during the mentioned period, by the competent authorities (Court of Accounts, Financial Inspection under the Ministry of Finance, State Labor Inspectorate, external international supervisory auditors, etc.).
A propos, if Mr. Slusari has proven facts and not only invented information about certain schemes, we urge him to comply with the law and make a complaint to the competent authorities.
Dear citizens,
The Public Services Agency is a public institution, which by definition is apolitical.
We repeatedly call for fairness and urge political activists not to allow the involvement of the PSA in political games, regardless of the interests they propagate.
We urge citizens to be vigilant and to verify the information provided publicly by Mr. Alexandru Slusari.
The PSA has always been and is open to provide accurate information to anyone interested in the work of the PSA, including media institutions and especially politicians.