Chicu: Patriot Centre Staff Salary 7 Times Higher Than That of Ordinary Teachers

The chairman of the “Party of Development and Unification of Moldova”, Ion Chicu, said in social networks that the Centre for Strategic Communications and Combating Disinformation “Patriot”, headed by former Interior Minister Ana Revenco, would employ 35 people. According to Ion Chicu, these employees, “in addition to a salary 5-7 times higher than that of a teacher, will also receive a monthly bonus of 40 per cent. This is what the 20 million lei budgeted for 2024 will be spent on, Noi.md reports. “These 35 Patriot employees are not even included in the statistics in the attached table, which only reflects the evolution of units in the government and ministries. As you can see, in 2023 compared to 2020, the number of employees in the government and ministries has increased by 531 units, namely, by 35% {...}. If we look at the top echelon, we see that the number of ministers has increased by 56 per cent, deputy prime ministers by 100 per cent, and secretaries of state by 64 per cent. The number of units in the State Chancellery has increased by 79, that is, by 39 per cent. The number of units in the former Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, which today is divided into 3 ministries, increased by 82%. The number of units in the former Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection also increased by 79%," Chicu added, attaching a photo of the number of employees in several ministries in 2020 and today. In response to Noi.md’s call regarding the reaction to Ion Chicu’s remarks, Ana Revenco said: “I am on public transport. Besides, I have a business trip to go on. So, it’s not quite the right environment for comments. But I will contact you by phone in a few minutes.” At the time of publication of this material Ana Revenco did not call back. On the air of Radio Moldova, Ana Revenco recently said that the Centre for Strategic Communications and Countering Disinformation may start working at the end of March next year. She also said that the institution is now in the process of setting up, developing a structure, internal rules, job descriptions and team building. The creation of the Centre for Strategic Communication and Combating Disinformation was approved by the legislature on the initiative of President Maia Sandu.