Presidential Call: Reforms Urged for Chișinău Airport Amid Auction Chaos
The failure of the auction has tarnished the reputation of Chișinău International Airport.
However, it is imperative that the process continues to attract potential investments from various European Union companies, as emphasised by Igor Grosu, the President of the Parliament, during an interview on Jurnal TV. He stressed the necessity of permanently removing this strategic objective from the influence of the fugitive Ilan Șor.
"I hope that those responsible for organising, particularly the Airport management, will learn from this unfortunate experience and swiftly relaunch the process. It is essential to refine the specifications to enable reputable companies to easily demonstrate their capabilities and experiences from various European Union locations. This will facilitate the leasing of these spaces without being subject to the whims of individuals like Ilan Șor, who is both convicted and worthy of imprisonment," stated Igor Grosu.
Furthermore, Grosu emphasised the need for authorities to ensure that Chișinău International Airport is no longer controlled by individuals deemed as "bandits."
"This objective remains paramount despite the damage already incurred to the airport's reputation. It is imperative that lessons are learned from these errors, enabling progress to be made," explained the head of the Legislature.
The Administration of Chișinău International Airport announced the suspension of the auction on Wednesday due to the failure of the sole registered company to submit all necessary documentation for final qualification. The institution has confirmed plans for a relaunch.
It is noteworthy that the deadline for applications to participate in the airport auction has been extended once more, following the submission of participation documents solely by Lagardere Travel Retail.
Chișinău International Airport (CIA) and the Public Property Agency (PPA) have auctioned spaces within the airport premises, known as the Sterile Zone and the Duty Free Zone. However, the auction was cancelled once before and has now been extended.
Rumours have circulated in the public sphere suggesting that "Lagardere Travel Retail" was poised to win the auction, with specifications allegedly favouring the company. This speculation arose despite reports of the company's involvement in a corruption scandal during a similar competition at Otopeni Airport, Romania, currently under investigation by the National Anticorruption Directorate in Bucharest.
Last week, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office initiated criminal proceedings regarding potential abuses related to the airport auction, with the National Anticorruption Center concurrently conducting its own investigation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
