Moldovan President takes note of Alexandru Munteanu's resignation
President Maia Sandu takes note of Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu's resignation and will begin consultations with parliamentary factions next week to appoint a new Prime Minister.
Maia Sandu: “The Prime Minister had full freedom to lead the Government”
During a press conference held on July 3, following Alexandru Munteanu’s announcement, Maia Sandu denied his claims that he was restricted from combating abuses.
She noted that the only reported issue was related to “the interpersonal relationship with one of the members of the Government,” specifically mentioning the Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun. Maia Sandu clarified that she was not the appropriate person to discuss these tensions.
“The speculations that he wanted to fight against abuses and was not allowed to do so are false. The Prime Minister had the freedom to lead the Government as he deemed appropriate. He chose to step down. Reforms are challenging,” declared Maia Sandu.
The President expressed her gratitude to Alexandru Munteanu for taking charge of the Government during a complex period, where it was necessary not only to revive the economy but also to initiate critical structural reforms.
"I appreciate the efforts made by him and the entire cabinet of ministers during these months," emphasized the head of state.
Maia Sandu also mentioned that while many initiatives began positively and significant progress was made, she expected "greater involvement in complicated decisions, more presence to listen to the people, and better communication to explain the necessary reforms and their purposes."
The President confirmed that she had several discussions with Alexandru Munteanu in the last week about reforms that have sparked intense debate in society, particularly the tax reform. She believes that "these reforms could have been better developed, consulted on, and explained, so we could gain the support and trust of citizens that our actions benefit the country."
"Both Mr. Munteanu and I have worked, and continue to work, with honesty and integrity. I have also maintained integrity and fairness throughout my entire career, including during very challenging moments; I have persevered and not given up," added the President.
Consultations for the designation of the future Prime Minister
Regarding the selection of the future prime minister, Maia Sandu stated that it is premature to determine whether a politician or a technocrat will be chosen. The decision will be made following consultations with parliamentary parties.
"We need to rethink several decisions, including fiscal policy and the wage law. We must have a united and strong team in the Government to achieve our country's objective of EU accession. Decisive steps are required to implement economic development measures and clean up our institutions. I encourage those who have worked honestly and fairly not to lose their enthusiasm for their work or their confidence in the country's future. We are obligated to succeed in taking Moldova to the EU and developing our country," the president said.
The President acknowledged that finding a suitable candidate for the position of Prime Minister is quite challenging, but she emphasized that, "we must still manage to form a Government fairly quickly," so that reforms do not get delayed in light of the country's European aspirations. Maia Sandu also mentioned that the outgoing Government "has done an extraordinary job regarding European integration."
"I want to remind my colleagues in the Government that we have some very concrete and ambitious tasks to accomplish by September 1, and this change of Government must not hinder our objectives. Therefore, I ask the ministers—who will remain in their positions even if the Government is dismissed—and all other colleagues in the Government and agencies working on the European integration agenda to maintain their momentum and to work even harder," requested the Head of State.
When asked about what changes she desires in the new government, Maia Sandu said that such discussions should be left to the candidate selected for the position of prime minister. "It would not be appropriate for me to speak on this matter and influence the process," she stated.
Resignation of Alexandru Munteanu
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced his resignation on Friday, July 3, just eight months after taking office. In a post on his Facebook page, he stated that he could no longer fulfill his mandate "in accordance with the principles and convictions I hold."
"When I realized that I could no longer exercise my mandate in alignment with my principles and convictions, I chose to step down. I extend my gratitude to all my colleagues—ministers, their teams, and everyone who worked with professionalism and good faith. I will continue to serve my country from any position I find myself in, regardless of where I live or the responsibilities I hold, whether in the public or private sector. I believe that our duty to the country is not tied to a specific position, but to the commitment we uphold," Munteanu wrote.
Following the appointment of a new Prime Minister candidate, he or she will need to request a vote of confidence from Parliament within 15 days regarding the activity program and the entire list of the Government. This request will be debated in a parliamentary session. If it is not possible to form a government, the Legislature may be dissolved if it has not granted a vote of confidence for the formation of the Executive within 45 days of the initial request, and only after at least two requests for investiture have been rejected.
