The Parliament of Chișinău granted a vote of confidence on Tuesday to the Cabinet of Ministers proposed by designated Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, with the new executive receiving the votes of the 53 deputies from the PAS governing formation out of a total of 101.
The parliamentary groups of the Socialists and Communists voted against the new executive, while deputies from „Democracy at Home,” the „Alternative” Bloc, „Our Party,” and the unaffiliated abstained.
In practice, 21 deputies voted against, while another 21 did not vote. Six deputies were absent.
Parliamentarians questioned the proposed Prime Minister for two hours before proceeding to the vote.
Priorities of the new government
During his speech in the Parliament plenary, Vasile Tofan specified that the new government will have five priorities: economic development, utilizing the EU accession process for modernizing the country, streamlining the state, enhancing security, and improving the quality of life for citizens, as reported by NewsMaker.
"I am not asking for a blank check. I am asking for a vote for a program with a clear direction, measurable indicators, and agreed deadlines," stated Vasile Tofan in front of the deputies. He also mentioned that the government's success will be measured by investments made, enterprises developed, increased exports, and better public services.
"European economy, efficient state" is the name of the Government's Activity Program for which Vasile Tofan requested a vote of confidence.
Most ministers from the former cabinet led by Alexandru Munteanu, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, have been retained in their positions. Only four ministers out of the 16 in the cabinet are new - in Finance, Agriculture, Health, and Culture.
Tofan's Cabinet List
- Eugen Osmochescu – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization;
- Vladimir Bolea – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development;
- Cristina Gherasimov – Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration;
- Mihai Popşoi – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
- Valeriu Chiveri – Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration;
- Dan Perciun – Minister of Education and Research;
- Radu Musteaţă – Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry;
- Daniella Misail-Nichitin – Minister of Internal Affairs;
- Vladislav Cojuhari – Minister of Justice;
- Victoria Belous – Minister of Finance;
- Natalia Plugaru – Minister of Labor and Social Protection;
- Alexandru Gasnaş – Minister of Health;
- Gheorghe Hajder – Minister of Environment;
- Dan Suruceanu – Minister of Culture;
- Dorin Junghietu – Minister of Energy;
- Anatolie Nosatîi – Minister of Defense.
The new cabinet led by Vasile Tofan was sworn in after former Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu surprisingly resigned earlier this month, after eight months in office.
Like his predecessor Alexandru Munteanu, 44-year-old Vasile Tofan comes from a business background, being an experienced international investor in management and business. He is a graduate of Erasmus University and Harvard Business School and has worked in companies and investment funds in Europe and the USA, being involved in several businesses and organizations in the Republic of Moldova.
After refusing the proposal to be Prime Minister last October, he explained that he changed his mind now due to a sense of guilt: "I have a sickening sense of responsibility, I also felt a degree of guilt for not responding to the call back in October. I am doing it in a tough context for me, I have a child born three weeks ago, my wife is not happy with the decision I made, now among the challenges of reforms, I also have to succeed in this," he explained when he was nominated for the position of Prime Minister by President Maia Sandu on July 11, as the PAS proposal.
The new Prime Minister will take the oath on Wednesday, when the first meeting of the new cabinet will also take place.