The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, signed on Thursday the decree appointing Alexandru Munteanu as Prime Minister, following official consultations with parliamentary factions.
“I wish him success in forming a Government that will gain the Parliament’s confidence and meet the most important expectations of the citizens: protecting peace, preparing the country for EU accession, strengthening the economy, and improving people’s living standards,” Maia Sandu conveyed in a message posted on Facebook.
Munteanu has 15 days to form his government team and request the Parliament’s vote of confidence, where PAS holds an absolute majority.
According to PAS leader Igor Grosu, the new Prime Minister will choose his ministers independently and may retain several members of the previous executive. “We consider him a person with the right profile and experience for the current needs of our country, namely economic growth,” Grosu stated.
Economist, professor, and businessman with international experience
Born on January 20, 1964, in Chisinau, Alexandru Munteanu is an economist, university professor, and businessman, with a career of over three decades in the fields of investments, finance, and international relations.
He graduated from the Faculty of Physics at the State University of Moldova and worked at the Institute of Applied Physics of the Academy of Sciences. Later, he was a lecturer, associate professor, and vice-dean at the Technical University of Moldova, where he taught the course "Theoretical Foundations of Electrical Engineering."
After the establishment of the National Bank of Moldova, Munteanu was appointed head of the Foreign Exchange Operations Section and then Deputy Director of the External Relations Department.
In the '90s, Munteanu pursued postgraduate studies at Columbia University in New York, specializing in banking, finance, and international relations. Later, he worked at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., on regional development projects.
Upon returning to the Republic of Moldova, he became Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Investigations and Reforms, then Director of the American Investment Fund WNISEF's representation, also serving on the boards of several companies in Moldova and Ukraine.
In the business environment, Alexandru Munteanu is known as the founder of the investment company 4i Capital Partners, active in Eastern Europe. Between 2007 and 2016, he led the Direct Investments Department at Dragon Capital in Ukraine.
In the cultural field, he is the founder and president of the French Alliance in the Republic of Moldova, which he has led for over 30 years. He has collaborated extensively with French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron, and is one of the founders of the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova (AmCham).
International reputation and honorary distinctions
Internationally, Munteanu was a member and co-chair of the Business Council under the Stability Pact in Vienna, as well as President of the Board of Patrons of the Pechersk School International in Kyiv, an International Baccalaureate accredited school.
In 2006, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor, Knight grade, by the French state for his contribution to the development of Franco-Moldovan cultural relations.
Recean resigned and withdraws from politics
Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean, resigned on October 13, despite being recently elected as a deputy on the PAS lists, the ruling party. He stated that he is leaving politics to focus on the business environment.
His decision came three days before the parliamentary election results were validated by the Constitutional Court. “My mandate ends with that of the current government,” Recean declared at that time.