Moldova's Sandu picks financier Vasile Tofan as prime minister after political crisis

Political crisis and the prime minister's exit

Alexandru Munteanu resigned as prime minister on 3 July after only eight months in office, stating he could no longer execute his duties in line with his principles. His departure followed the MoldATSA scandal, a nepotism affair at the state air navigation company that, according to Europa Press, implicated relatives of President Sandu. Munteanu stayed on as caretaker premier, though Economy Minister Eugene Osmocescu briefly served as acting prime minister for three days, as reported by the Spanish news agency.

Vasile Tofan's nomination

President Sandu formally designated Vasile Tofan on Saturday, one day after the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) validated him with 162 votes at its national political council. Tofan, 44, is a senior partner and investment committee member at Horizon Capital, one of Central and Eastern Europe's largest private-equity funds. He is a Harvard Business School graduate who backed Sandu during her 2024 presidential campaign. His business empire employs over 55,000 people, many of them in Ukraine, Deutsche Welle reported. Tofan acknowledged he had previously refused calls to join government but said the gravity of the moment changed his mind.

I felt guilty for not answering the call then. Now I told myself I have to set aside my own comfort and serve my country.

EU accession and economic revival

Tofan said his absolute priority is to sign the EU accession treaty by the end of 2028, building on formal negotiations that opened on 15 June. He pledged to revitalise the economy and restore public trust after weeks of disappointment. At a press conference he stressed that business confidence is the foundation of any reform programme.

If we do not restore optimism in the eyes of entrepreneurs, nothing else will work because there simply will not be money for it.

Sandu directed the new cabinet to strengthen state institutions and raise living standards through growth. Tofan said he would avoid immediate large-scale changes to preserve continuity for EU-related deadlines, though he later warned on Facebook that radical and unpopular measures were unavoidable. The Facebook post also generated controversy by praising Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei as a reform role model; Tofan subsequently retracted the comparison after social-media criticism.

Parliamentary approval ahead

Under Moldova's constitution, Tofan now has 15 days to submit a governing programme and cabinet lineup to parliament. The PAS holds 55 seats in the chamber, providing a comfortable majority for the vote. Should legislators reject two successive candidates within 45 days, the country would face early elections. Tofan promised a blunt, transparent style, telling reporters he would speak directly about challenges and accept even unpopular steps, relying on the wisdom and support of the public.