Moldova chooses new prime minister as it pushes for EU membership

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing reporting from AP and Reuters, reports that Moldova’s parliament has approved financier Vasile Tofan as prime minister, installing a political newcomer at a moment when the country is trying to accelerate its path toward European Union membership. Lawmakers backed Tofan and his cabinet on Tuesday by 53 votes to 21, with 21 abstentions, after three weeks of political uncertainty.

Tofan succeeds Alexandru Munteanu, who resigned unexpectedly after only eight months in office, leading to the departure of his government. Although Tofan is not tied to a political party, he was nominated by President Maia Sandu and supported by her Party of Action and Solidarity. Sandu has argued that Moldova needs a cohesive government to meet its EU ambitions.

According to Al Jazeera, Tofan’s programme, titled “The European Economy, an Effective State,” focuses on economic revival, reducing budget deficits, selling some state-owned firms and continuing EU accession work. His plan aims to move membership negotiations forward this year, reach an accession agreement by the end of 2028 and prepare Moldova to join the bloc by 2030. Moldova, described in the report as among Europe’s poorest countries, recorded 2.4 percent economic growth last year.

The development matters because Moldova’s political direction has long alternated between pro-EU forces and parties favouring closer relations with Russia. Moldova received EU candidate status in 2022 alongside Ukraine, and accession talks opened last month. Full membership remains uncertain and depends on reforms required by the EU, while Brussels has accused Russia of interference in Moldovan elections.