The General Police Inspectorate aims to buy 52 sport utility vehicles manufactured in 2020. The price for one vehicle ranges from over 40,000 euros to over 50,500 euros. The Inspectorate already posted the announcement on the public and private procurement websites. The value of the purchase is over €1 million. 

During the pandemic crisis, the General Police Inspectorate decided to acquire 52 sport utility vehicles. Previously, on the public procurement website, there were announcements for purchasing, flowers, or carpets. At the same time, the authorities initiated a crowdfunding campaign, asking citizens to donate money for helping the medical system in their fight with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the announcement, the General Police Inspectorate is looking for 52 new sport utility vehicles, made in 2020. According to the Inspectorate, the procurement will be made from the European Union’s funds, according to the 2016 – 2020 strategy for the Police development and not from State Budget funds. 

„The Inspectorate will buy these transportation units to enhance the capacity of the intervention teams. According to the contract, these vehicles will help the intervention teams to arrive 15 minutes earlier and also increase the number of rapid response teams in Chișinău and other districts in the country,” the General Police Inspectorate mentioned through a press release. 

On March 17, the government declared a state of emergency as a measure to fight the coronavirus crisis in the country. Although the economic experts warn about the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities are still trying to make costly procurements. At the same time, more civil servants ensured us that the decisions on certain purchases were made previously, and based on the evolution of the situation in the country, they could give them up for some time. 

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Pavel Voicu, mentioned that the acquisition was planned before the coronavirus crisis began. Voicu claimed that the European Union is funding the acquisition and if the Inspectorate fails to do the acquisition the Ministry might lose other projects with its foreign partners. 

Prime Minister Ion Chicu claimed that he doesn’t want back the situation from the ‘90s when the police didn’t have cars to chase after criminals.