Moldova's Poverty Figures: Minister Challenges Official Statistics

Moldova's poverty rate is under scrutiny. The National Bureau of Statistics recently released figures showing a significant rise in poverty, but Minister Alexei Buzu disputes these findings. In a recent interview, Buzu stated, "When calculating poverty rates, compensations offered by the Moldovan government were not included." This omission, he argues, inflates the poverty figures. The Bureau’s data shows a jump from 24.5% to 33.6% in absolute poverty over the past year. Buzu points out that the government has implemented various compensation programs, such as covering the cost of medicine and increasing access to services, which have reduced the financial burden on many families. He contends that a more nuanced approach to data collection is necessary to accurately reflect the socioeconomic realities in Moldova. The debate highlights the importance of transparent and comprehensive data in addressing poverty effectively.