Igor Dodon, leader of the Socialist Party parliamentary faction, said that next week the government of Maia Sandu plans to propose amendments to tax policy to Parliament that would allow it to collect an additional 5.1 billion lei in state budget revenues. According to him, the main burden would come from higher VAT and excise duties, which would ultimately lead to higher prices for citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

Dodon believes that the authorities have other solutions and reserves that could make it possible to avoid raising taxes and duties.

As one such reserve, the Socialist leader pointed to spending on the state apparatus. According to him, in 2020, state spending on public-sector personnel amounted to 17.2 billion lei, while in 2025 it reached 31.3 billion lei.

“That is 14 billion lei more — an impressive increase of more than 80% during five years of PAS rule, unprecedented in the modern history of the Republic of Moldova,” Dodon said.

He compared these figures with the amount the government plans to collect through changes to tax policy:

5.1 billion lei — the amount Dodon says the government wants to collect additionally from citizens.

14.158 billion lei — the amount by which, according to the politician, spending on the state apparatus increased between 2020 and 2025.

In Dodon’s view, the authorities could have used part of these resources to increase the salaries of doctors and teachers instead of increasing spending on the state apparatus.

He also stated that during PAS’s time in government, the number of ministries increased from 9 to 14, while the staffing levels of state institutions grew significantly. As an example, Dodon mentioned the government’s recent decision to increase the staffing level of the National Anticorruption Center by 160 positions.

Another potential source of additional revenue, according to the Socialist leader, is the banking sector.

19 billion lei — this is how Dodon estimates the combined profits of banks earned, in his view, at the expense of citizens through interest on loans and interest associated with servicing government debt held by banks.

The politician also claimed that the country’s public debt has increased significantly, putting the increase at 60 billion lei.

As the results of five years of PAS rule, Dodon listed:

• zero economic growth;
• cumulative inflation of more than 70%;
• an absolute poverty rate of 33.6%.

“The state should be a catalyst for economic and social development, not a ‘tax collector’ reaching into citizens’ pockets. That is why the state should lead by example when it comes to saving money, rather than raising taxes and increasing the burden on the population,” the Socialist faction leader emphasized.

Dodon also offered a sharply critical political assessment of the current government.

“This government must urgently be sent to the dustbin of history. More and more citizens are demanding early parliamentary elections, preferably held simultaneously with presidential elections,” he said.

To support the figures he cited, Dodon referred to tables published on the official website of the Government of the Republic of Moldova and said that he had attached screenshots of the relevant data.