The PAS lawmaker Radu Marian has announced his resignation as chairman of Parliament’s Economy, Budget and Finance Committee following the scandal at state-owned air navigation company MoldATSA and the dismissal of its former director, Dumitru Vangheli.
In a public statement, Marian said the situation at MoldATSA had damaged the credibility of the entire team and accepted responsibility for recommending Vangheli for the position, while stressing that he had not been aware of the alleged salary-related abuses within the company.
“I condemn such behaviour. Throughout all these years I have not strayed from the values with which I started. I have certainly made mistakes, but during my entire time as an MP I have carried out my duties honestly. It has been a difficult journey. I have been responsible for coordinating more than 20 policy areas and for promoting, reviewing and passing nearly 500 laws and resolutions, including those aimed at strengthening energy independence, supporting the business environment and advancing integration into the EU’s economic area. I want to believe that I have done everything I could for the Republic of Moldova and its European path, even though I have made mistakes. But I can say with a clear conscience that I have never pursued hidden interests or sought personal gain. Any institution is free to verify my income, assets and activities,” Marian wrote.
The lawmaker called for the allegations to be investigated by the company’s Audit Commission and the Financial Inspectorate, while condemning any abuse in the management of public funds.
“What happened is a harsh lesson for us. We are not running from responsibility; on the contrary, we acknowledge our mistakes and correct them. I thank the independent media for showing us where we have failed to do things properly,” he added.
Marian said he was stepping down as committee chairman to protect the image of his team and preserve public trust in Moldova’s European integration process. He said he would remain a member of parliament and continue contributing to the country’s accession process to the European Union.
Marian recently faced accusations that he had lobbied for Vangheli’s appointment as MoldATSA director. He acknowledged supporting the nomination but said he had not known at the time about allegations that Vangheli had falsified his CV.