The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (LDPM) condemns the use of children in image-building events aimed at politically promoting the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and calls on the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to investigate the use of public funds to provide the ruling party with a political advantage, TRIBUNA reports.

According to the party’s statement, on August 10, 2026, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan met at the Government building with 120 children and young people from the diaspora who were participating in the government’s “Diaspora, Origini, Reveniri — DOR” program. The program is funded from the state budget, participation is free of charge, and the expenses are covered with public funds.

LDPM states that the government event was turned into an event with an obvious political PR component.

“All the children were wearing yellow T-shirts — a color strongly associated with PAS. The uniformity of the clothing rules out the possibility that this was a coincidental choice, since the children were equipped with the shirts as part of the program. The yellow color of the entire group, the placement of the children around the prime minister, and the widespread dissemination of these images create a visual connection between the government-funded event and PAS’s political identity.

LDPM reminds that paragraph (3) of Article 19 of Law No. 370/2023 on the Rights of the Child prohibits the involvement of children in the activities of political parties. At the same time, paragraph (6) of Article 26 of Law No. 294/2007 on Political Parties prohibits direct or indirect material support for political parties by public authorities and institutions financed from the public budget. The CEC regulation considers support for a party through material or non-material goods or services to constitute indirect financing.

The issue is not limited to the color of the T-shirts. The state budget finances the government program, the underage participants are integrated into a visual identity associated with PAS, and the image created is used to publicly promote the prime minister and, indirectly, the ruling party. In LDPM’s view, this constitutes the use of public resources to provide PAS with a political advantage.

LDPM also points to dangerous double standards. PAS demands strict enforcement of party legislation, expanded oversight of political competitors, and sanctions for violations, while simultaneously using state institutions and resources for its own promotion. The law cannot be strict for the opposition and optional for the party in power,” the party said in its statement.

LDPM calls on the CEC to act on its own initiative and investigate the total cost of the event and its source of funding; the purchase of the T-shirts and who determined their color; expenses related to organizing the event, photography, video recording, and promotion; as well as whether PAS received a direct or indirect political benefit and whether this should be reflected in the party’s financial reporting.

LDPM notes that in April 2026, the CEC emphasized the need to distinguish between the exercise of public office and political promotion, stating that expenditures must not be used to circumvent political party financing rules or for undeclared political advertising. We demand that the same standards be applied to the ruling party.

LDPM calls on the CEC to prove that the law is equal for everyone. Children are not a tool for political propaganda. The Government is not PAS headquarters. The state budget is not a fund for promoting the ruling party.