Moldovan PM Tofan takes office as Socialist leader abstains
Moldova’s Parliament backed the new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan on Tuesday evening, granting a vote of confidence supported by 53 lawmakers from the ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS).
The vote passed despite two missing ballots within the ruling majority and a notable divergence inside the opposition Socialist Party.
Parliamentary absences explained
One of the absent PAS votes belonged to MP Vasile Grădinaru, who was unable to attend the session. Grădinaru confirmed he would have voted in favor of the new government without hesitation.
The second missing PAS ballot followed the recent resignation of lawmaker Alexandr Trubca after a public controversy surrounding his real estate business. His designated successor, Roman Roșca, has not yet had his mandate validated by the Constitutional Court.
Opposition split on confidence vote
The most unexpected decision came from Deputy Speaker Vlad Batrîncea, who was the sole member of the Socialist Party faction to abstain. All other 14 Socialist MPs voted against the Tofan Cabinet.
Batrîncea did not respond to requests for comment regarding his decision.
Meanwhile, seven lawmakers from the Communist Party also voted against the new government. Another 21 opposition MPs—representing the Alternativa bloc, Our Party, the Democracy at Home Party, alongside unaffiliated members—chose to abstain.
Government officially takes office
Following the parliamentary approval, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan and his ministers officially took the oath of office at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, July 22.
The new Cabinet held its inaugural working session later that afternoon to begin executing its mandate.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
