Moldova's prime‑minister‑designate Vasile Tofan prepares new government amid opposition

Vasile Tofan Moldova government formation confidence vote opposition parties local administration reform

President Maia Sandu has named Vasile Tofan as prime‑minister‑designate following the resignation of Alexandru Munteanu. Tofan has fifteen days to present a governing programme and a cabinet list and then seek a vote of confidence in the Parliament, scheduled for 21 July. He said he wants “a government focused on a few clear priorities, disciplined in the use of public money and evaluated on results.”

Tofan has been holding consultations with interim ministers, local‑government representatives and a range of parliamentary factions. Meetings with opposition parties—including the Party of Socialists (PSRM), the National Alternative Movement (MAN), the Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova (PDCM) and the Party of Our Country (PPN)—have yielded criticism and demands for the programme and ministerial list. PSRM reiterated it will not support the new cabinet and called for early parliamentary elections. Other opposition groups have offered conditional support if the programme addresses budget deficit, agricultural aid and public‑sector reforms.

Local‑administration reform has also been a focus. Tofan met with representatives of the Congress of Local Authorities (CALM), the Congress of Local Authorities of the East (CALE) and the Union of Regional Councils to discuss the structure of municipalities, financing and voluntary amalgamation. He emphasized that solutions should build on existing institutions rather than dismantle them.

The new cabinet is expected to be announced by the end of the week (Friday, 17 July), after which Tofan will submit the programme and ministerial list to Parliament for the confidence vote.