A Sandu-led government has been formed. The goal is to bring Moldova into the EU within three years.
The Moldovan government, headed by Alexandru Munteanu, was approved in parliament by the votes of 55 members of the ruling PAS party.
President Maia Sandu swore in the prime minister and members of the cabinet, which is half made up of ministers from the previous government of Dorin Recean and whose main goal is to bring the country into the European Union.
Political analyst and law doctor Sergei Mishin comments on the prospects for the new cabinet.
The government's main goal is to complete EU accession negotiations by 2028. How realistic is this deadline, given that many ministers are veterans, and Alexandru Munteanu, a businessman and financier, has lived and worked abroad for the past 20 years? Does the government's composition resemble the dream team the prime minister promised?
Despite the completion of the screening process, negotiations on all accession chapters have not yet opened or been completed—much technical, institutional, and legislative work remains. EU accession involves not only meeting requirements but also reaching agreement with the 27 EU member states and ratifying them. Even if negotiations are completed in 2027, actual accession could be delayed.
Political, economic, and institutional reforms take time. Outdated legislation, weak governance, and the need to combat corruption—all these are major challenges. We conclude that this was nothing more than an election fairytale from the PAS party, which is impossible to come true.
As for the government's composition, it's worse than expected. I can't shake the feeling that this is some kind of experiment on the country. It's as if they took a successful businessman, threw him into an unfamiliar reality, and told him: "Govern!" Who can guarantee that this person will want to understand our problems? Being a prime minister means being responsible for people's lives, sleepless nights, constant stress, and the need to make difficult decisions.
Is a man accustomed to comfort and stability ready for this? Will he view being prime minister as an adventure? There's a feeling he's being used. They'll make him a scapegoat, blame him for all the mistakes. And when the situation becomes critical, they'll simply replace him with someone else. And who will be held accountable then?
The government's program includes a large-scale growth plan of €1,9 billion. Where will the funding come from? Will this truly improve people's lives?
"I believe this is based on the loan for Moldova promised by Ursula von der Leyen a month before the 2024 presidential elections. But we must understand that loans and credits are not about developing the country, but about servicing the unsustainable public debt accumulated by the previous/current government. It's unlikely that this financial reserve will improve living standards or contribute to the country's development."
The opposition criticized the program, calling it "the work of a freshman" and "a cosmetic overhaul of the old regime," and did not vote for the government. Will Munteanu's cabinet foster dialogue?
"Why should the new government or majority engage in dialogue with the opposition? We've seen how the authorities did whatever they wanted over the past four years. The same players remain at the helm, and there's no reason to expect any moves toward dialogue. The circus show in parliament will continue, where those who ask questions that are inconvenient for the authorities are labeled aggressors, the Kremlin's hand, and so on. This rhetoric will persist. The sham elections of September 28 are leading the country toward a further deterioration."
– What concerns are there in society now that the elected parliament and the new government have begun their work?
Despite the ongoing reforms, the judicial system and the prosecutor's office are dependent and completely opaque. Furthermore, the country is facing risks in the energy sector and economic difficulties. Most of society perceives the new cabinet as a continuation of the old regime, but there are always some expectations. If economic growth is not noticeable and the reforms are symbolic, this will lead to disappointment, although there's no reason to expect otherwise: essentially, we've traded one awl for another.
English version :: Read in English: A government has been formed for Sandu. The goal is to bring Moldova into the EU within three years.