Madalin NecsutuChisinauBIRNFebruary 16, 202316:24Dorin Recean was invested as the country’s Prime Minister following the sudden departure of Natalia Gavrilita, promising deeper reforms in the justice, security and economic fields.
Moldova’s new Prime Minister, Dorin Recean (C), at a meeting with civil society groups on February 16, 2023. Photo: Dorin Recean Facebook page
The new government in Moldova led by Dorin Recean on Thursday received a vote of confidence in parliament, winning the support of 62 out of 101 deputies.
MPs from the ruling pro-European Action and Solidarity Party, PAS, voted for the new cabinet, while the pro-Russian opposition, made up of Socialist and Communist parties and the Ilan Shor Party voted against.
Recean was due on Thursday evening to take the ceremonial oath of office in front of President Maia Sandu.
The program of the new pro-European government foresees three major priorities related to the economy, security and the proper functioning of state institutions.
“We must increase the influx of foreign investments and relaunch the information sector. We will facilitate digitisation in all areas,” Recean told parliament.
He also said that Moldova must strengthen its security sector. “We see the multiplication of security risks to Moldova … We have experienced a wave of hybrid threats. A wave of even greater intensity will follow. Therefore, we will strengthen institutions to cope,” he stated.
The new Prime Minister also spoke about the continued fight against significant corruption and the acceleration of the cleaning-up of justice, and about the peaceful resolution of the frozen conflict with the breakaway Transnistria region.
Most former ministers in former PM Natalia Gavrilița’s government remain in office. There will be only four new ministers in Recean’s team. The cabinet will have 15 portfolios.
The most significant changes are in the Justice Ministry, Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development. A separate Energy Ministry was also created.
The Socialist Party, led de facto by former president Igor Dodon, organised a protest in front of the parliament on Thursday, demanding early elections and the departure of the pro-European party in charge.
The Socialist vice-president of parliament, Vlad Batrancea, qualified the new government as a “cosmetic change” that would not bring anything new.
During Recean’s hearings in parliament, Marina Tauber, a deputy for the Ilan Sor Party of the fugitive pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor, tried to interrupt the session.
Recean was designated as the new Prime Minister by President Sandu after Gavrilita resigned on February 10, buffeted by overlapping crises and the effects of the war in nearby Ukraine.
Source link: balkaninsight.com
