New government sworn in in Moldova

The Moldovan government, led by Alexandru Munteanu, was sworn in on Saturday, marking the official start of its work. The ceremony was broadcast on Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s Facebook page.

The swearing-in ceremony for Munteanu and his ministers took place in the presence of Sandu and Igor Grosu, the speaker of the Moldovan parliament, where a vote of confidence in the government had been held the day before.

In her speech, the Moldovan president Maia Sandu stated that the new government must complete the reforms and programs already underway that will help the country on its path to EU accession.

“We need bold measures that will ensure economic development… all goals can be achieved only if we take advantage of the historic opportunity provided by the EU,” she said.

Earlier, Maia Sandu officially nominated businessman Alexandru Munteanu, who has resided in Ukraine for over 20 years, as prime minister. Subsequently, he announced the list of ministers of his future government.

Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasim remain in their posts from the previous government.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Education Dan Perciun, Minister of Agriculture Ludmila Catlabuga, Minister of Internal Affairs Daniela Misail-Nichitin, Minister of Defense Anatolie Nosatii, and Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu also remain in their positions.

In the new government, former Moldovan Ambassador to Ukraine Valeriu Chiveri takes the position of Deputy Prime Minister for the Return of Transnistria.

“This is the team with which I will go to parliament to ask deputies to vote for confidence,” Munteanu announced.

He said that his team’s priority is “to ensure economic growth together with a professional government team that will guarantee that the Republic of Moldova will be ready to join the EU in the coming years.”

Moldovan journalists found evidence of cooperation between prime ministerial candidate Alexandru Munteanu and a sanctioned lawyer from Cyprus, after which Munteanu issued a statement.